FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 424(B)(1)
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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1)
Registration No. 333-123625
PROSPECTUS
14,700,000 Preferred Shares
(GOL LOGO)
In the form of American Depositary Shares outside Brazil
and in the form of Preferred Shares in Brazil
 
We and the selling shareholder are offering 11,172,000 shares of our non-voting preferred stock, or the preferred shares, in an international offering in the form of American depositary shares, or ADSs. Each ADS represents two preferred shares. We are selling 996,405 ADSs and the selling shareholder is selling 4,589,595 ADSs in the United States and other countries outside Brazil through the international underwriters named in this prospectus. In addition, we are concurrently offering 3,528,000 preferred shares in Brazil through Brazilian underwriters under a Portuguese-language prospectus. The closings of the international and Brazilian offerings will be conditioned upon each other. In total, we are offering 5,520,811 preferred shares in the global offering and the selling shareholder is offering 9,179,189 preferred shares.
The ADSs trade on the New York Stock Exchange, known as the NYSE, under the symbol “GOL.” On April 27, 2005, the reported last sale price of the ADSs was US$27.88 per ADS on the NYSE. Our preferred shares trade on the São Paulo Stock Exchange, known as the BOVESPA, under the symbol “GOLL4.” On April 27, 2005, the reported last sale price of our preferred shares was R$34.50 per preferred share on the BOVESPA.
This offering will be registered with the Brazilian Securities Commission (the Comissão de Valores Mobiliários, or CVM). The CVM has not approved or disapproved these securities or determined if this prospectus (or the Portuguese-language prospectus referred to above) is truthful or complete.
 
Investing in the ADSs and our preferred shares involves risks. See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 13.
 
PRICE $ 27.88 AN ADS
 
                                 
        Underwriting        
    Price to   Discounts and   Proceeds   Proceeds to Selling
    Public   Commissions   to Us   Shareholders
                 
Per ADS
    $27.88       $1.12       $26.76       $26.76  
Total
    $204,918,000       $8,196,720       $73,881,701       $122,839,579  
We have granted the underwriters the right for a period of 30 days to purchase up to an additional 2,205,000 preferred shares to cover over-allotments, if any.
Neither the Securities and Exchange Commission nor any state securities regulators have approved or disapproved these securities, or determined if this prospectus is truthful or complete. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.
Delivery of the ADSs will be made on or about May 3, 2005.                    
 
MORGAN STANLEY
  MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
  RAYMOND JAMES
  SANTANDER INVESTMENT
April 27, 2005


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      You should rely only on the information contained in this prospectus. Neither we nor the selling shareholder have authorized anyone to provide you with information that is different from the information contained in this prospectus. This document may only be used where it is legal to sell these securities. The information in this prospectus is accurate only as of the date of this prospectus, regardless of when this prospectus is delivered or when any sale of the ADSs or our preferred shares occurs.
 
      In this prospectus, we use the terms “the Registrant” to refer to Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A., “Gol” to refer to Gol Transportes Aéreos S.A. and “we,” “us” and “our” to refer to the Registrant and Gol together, except where the context requires otherwise. References to “preferred shares” and “ADSs” refer to non-voting preferred shares of the Registrant and American depositary shares representing those preferred shares, respectively, except where the context requires otherwise.
      The phrase “Brazilian government” refers to the federal government of the Federative Republic of Brazil, and the term “Central Bank” refers to the Banco Central do Brasil, or the Central Bank of Brazil. The term “Brazil” refers to the Federative Republic of Brazil. The terms “U.S. dollar” and “U.S. dollars” and the symbol “US$” refer to the legal currency of the United States. The terms “real” and “reais” and the symbol “R$” refer to the legal currency of Brazil. “U.S. GAAP” refers to generally accepted accounting principles in the United States, and “Brazilian GAAP” refers to generally accepted accounting principles in Brazil, which are accounting principles derived from Law No. 6,404 of December 15, 1976, as amended and supplemented, or the Brazilian corporation law and the rules of the CVM.
      This prospectus contains terms relating to operating performance within the airline industry that are defined as follows:
  “Revenue passengers” represents the total number of paying passengers flown on all flight segments.
 
  “Revenue passenger kilometers” represents the numbers of kilometers flown by revenue passengers.
 
  “Available seat kilometers” represents the aircraft seating capacity multiplied by the number of kilometers the seats are flown.
 
  “Load factor” represents the percentage of aircraft seating capacity that is actually utilized (calculated by dividing revenue passenger kilometers by available seat kilometers).
 
  “Breakeven load factor” is the passenger load factor that will result in passenger revenues being equal to operating expenses.
 
  “Aircraft utilization” represents the average number of block hours operated per day per aircraft for the total aircraft fleet.

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  “Block hours” refers to the elapsed time between an aircraft’s leaving an airport gate and arriving at an airport gate.
 
  “Yield per passenger kilometer” represents the average amount one passenger pays to fly one kilometer.
 
  “Passenger revenue per available seat kilometer” represents passenger revenue divided by available seat kilometers.
 
  “Operating revenue per available seat kilometer” represents operating revenues divided by available seat kilometers.
 
  “Average stage length” represents the average number of kilometers flown per flight.
 
  “Operating expense per available seat kilometer” represents operating expenses divided by available seat kilometers.
      We make statements in this prospectus about our competitive position and market share in, and the market size of, the Brazilian and South American airline industry. We have made these statements on the basis of statistics and other information from third-party sources, governmental agencies or industry or general publications that we believe are reliable. Although we have no reason to believe any of this information or these reports are inaccurate in any material respect, we have not independently verified the competitive position, market share and market size or market growth data provided by third parties or by industry or general publications. All industry and market data contained in this prospectus is based upon the latest publicly available information as of the date of this prospectus.
      Certain figures included in this prospectus have been subject to rounding adjustments. Accordingly, figures shown as totals in certain tables may not be an arithmetic aggregation of the figures that precede them.
      The consolidated financial statements included in this prospectus have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and reflect our financial condition and results of operations as if the Registrant had been incorporated and held all of the capital stock of Gol, with the exception of five common shares and three preferred shares of Gol held by members of Gol’s board of directors for eligibility purposes, since January 1, 2001. See “Description of Capital Stock— General.” We publish our consolidated financial statements in Brazil in accordance with Brazilian GAAP, which differ in certain significant respects from U.S. GAAP.
      We have translated some of the real amounts contained in this prospectus into U.S. dollars. The rate used to translate such amounts in respect of the year ended December 31, 2004 was R$2.6544 to US$1.00, which was the commercial rate for the purchase of U.S. dollars in effect as of December 31, 2004, as reported by the Central Bank. The U.S. dollar equivalent information presented in this prospectus is provided solely for convenience of investors and should not be construed as implying that the real amounts represent, or could have been or could be converted into, U.S. dollars at such rates or at any other rate. See “Exchange Rates” for more detailed information regarding the translation of reais into U.S. dollars.
      All amounts contained in this prospectus that have been adjusted to reflect the receipt by us of the estimated net proceeds of this global offering are based upon the sale by us of 5,520,811 preferred shares in this global offering, based upon the offering price of US$27.88 per ADS. Each ADS is equivalent to two preferred shares.
      Unless otherwise indicated, all information contained in this prospectus assumes no exercise of the underwriters’ option to purchase up to 2,205,000 additional preferred shares to cover over-allotments, if any.
      This offering is being made in Brazil by a prospectus in Portuguese that has been filed with the CVM and that has the same date as this prospectus but has a different format. This offering is made in the United States and elsewhere outside Brazil solely on the basis of the information contained in this prospectus. Investors should take this into account when making investment decisions.
 
      The Registrant was formed on March 12, 2004 as a sociedade por ações, a stock corporation duly incorporated under the laws of Brazil with unlimited duration. The Registrant is registered with the São Paulo Commercial Registry (Junta Comercial do Estado de São Paulo) under number NIRE 35.300.314.441. Gol was formed on August 1, 2001 as a Brazilian sociedade limitada, and on May 2, 2002, Gol was converted into a sociedade por ações.

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SPECIAL NOTE ABOUT FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS
      This prospectus includes forward-looking statements, principally under the captions “Prospectus Summary,” “Risk Factors,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and “Business.” We have based these forward-looking statements largely on our current beliefs, expectations and projections about future events and financial trends affecting our business. Many important factors, in addition to those discussed elsewhere in this prospectus, could cause our actual results to differ substantially from those anticipated in our forward-looking statements, including, among other things:
  general economic, political and business conditions in Brazil and in other South American markets we serve;
 
  management’s expectations and estimates concerning our future financial performance and financing plans and programs;
 
  our limited operating history;
 
  our level of fixed obligations;
 
  our capital expenditure plans;
 
  inflation and fluctuations in the exchange rate of the real;
 
  existing and future governmental regulations, including air traffic capacity controls;
 
  increases in fuel costs, maintenance costs and insurance premiums;
 
  changes in market prices, customer demand and preferences and competitive conditions;
 
  cyclical and seasonal fluctuations in our operating results;
 
  defects or mechanical problems with our aircraft;
 
  our ability to successfully implement our growth strategy; and
 
  the risk factors discussed under “Risk Factors” beginning on page 13.
      The words “believe,” “may,” “will,” “aim,” “estimate,” “continue,” “anticipate,” “intend,” “expect” and similar words are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements include information concerning our possible or assumed future results of operations, business strategies, financing plans, competitive position, industry environment, potential growth opportunities, the effects of future regulation and the effects of competition. Forward-looking statements speak only as of the date they were made, and we undertake no obligation to update publicly or to revise any forward-looking statements after we distribute this prospectus because of new information, future events or other factors. In light of the risks and uncertainties described above, the forward-looking events and circumstances discussed in this prospectus might not occur and are not guarantees of future performance.

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PROSPECTUS SUMMARY
      This summary highlights selected information about us and the ADSs and preferred shares that we and the selling shareholder are offering. It may not contain all of the information that may be important to you. Before investing in the ADSs, you should read this entire prospectus carefully for a more complete understanding of our business and this offering, including our consolidated financial statements and the notes to those consolidated financial statements and the sections entitled “Risk Factors” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations.”
Overview
      We are one of the most profitable low-cost airlines in the world and had net revenues of R$2.0 billion and net income of R$384.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. We are the only low-fare, low-cost airline operating in Brazil providing frequent service on routes connecting all of Brazil’s major cities. We focus on increasing the growth and profits of our business by popularizing air travel and stimulating and meeting demand for affordable, convenient air travel in Brazil and between Brazil and other South America destinations for both business and leisure passengers. We do this by offering simple, safe and efficient services while having among the lowest operating costs in the airline industry worldwide.
      We have flown over 23 million passengers since beginning operations in 2001 and, according to the Departamento de Aviação Civil, or DAC, Brazil’s civil aviation authority, our share of the domestic market based on revenue passenger kilometers grew from 4.7% in 2001 to 11.8% in 2002, 19.4% in 2003 and 22.3% in 2004.
      We operate 29 single-class Boeing 737 aircraft serving 37 cities in Brazil and one destination in Argentina. We have placed firm purchase orders with The Boeing Company for 30 737-800 Next Generation aircraft and we have options to purchase an additional 33 737-800 Next Generation aircraft. Currently, six firm order aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in 2006, thirteen in 2007, seven in 2008 and four in 2009. The purchase options are exercisable for deliveries between 2007 and 2010. We took delivery, under two-and three-year operating leases, of five Boeing 737-300 aircraft in the second half of 2004, which we are using to help meet our short-term capacity needs while we await the delivery of the new 737-800 Next Generation aircraft.
      We offer travelers a low-fare transportation alternative that we believe is an attractive value relative to conventional airline and bus transportation. We have a diversified revenue base, with customers ranging from business passengers traveling within densely populated centers in Brazil, such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte, to leisure passengers traveling to destinations throughout Brazil and to Argentina. We carefully evaluate opportunities to continue the growth of our business through increasing the frequency of flights to our existing high-demand markets and adding new routes to overpriced routes in Brazil and other South American destinations. We apply our strategy of popularizing air travel to expand our network from Brazil to markets in other South American countries using the same business model and route management methods that have helped us to become successful in Brazil.
      Our emphasis on controlling costs and yield management has given us flexibility in setting our fares to achieve a balance between our load factors and yields that we believe will generate the highest revenues per available seat kilometer and profitability for us. During a time when the airline industry globally was suffering from increased fuel prices, we generated net income of R$384.7 million in 2004. Our profitable results in 2004 were due largely to the economies of scale from the growth of our business and having a cost per available seat kilometer that was approximately 30% lower on a stage-length adjusted basis than that of our primary competitors, based upon our analysis of publicly available data.
      Our operating model is based on a highly integrated, multiple-stop route network that is a variation on the point-to-point model used by other successful low-cost carriers worldwide. The high level of integration of flights at selected airports permits us to offer frequent, non-stop flights at low fares between Brazil’s most important economic centers and ample interconnections through our network linking city pairs through a combination of two or more flights with little connecting or stop-over time. Our network also allows us to

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increase our load factors on our strongest city pair routes by using the airports in those cities to connect our customers onwards to their final destinations. This strategy increases our load factor by attracting customers traveling to secondary markets who prefer to pay lower fares even if this means making one or more stops before reaching their final destination. Finally, our operating model allows us to build our flight routes to add destinations to cities that would not, individually, be feasible to serve in the traditional point-to-point model, but that are feasible to serve when simply added as additional points on our multiple-stop flight network. We do this by offering low-fare early-bird or night flights to lower-traffic destinations, which are usually the first or last stops on our routes, allowing us to increase our aircraft utilization and generate additional revenues.
      The end result is that our operating model, when combined with our low fares and reliable service, stimulates demand for air travel, and helped us to achieve a load factor of 71% in 2004, as compared to an average domestic load factor of 63% for our three largest Brazilian competitors in the same period, according to the DAC. The interconnectivity of our network also resulted in approximately one-half of our passengers making connections while traveling to their final destination. During 2004, we maintained high standards of operating efficiency and customer satisfaction, completing 98% of our scheduled flights with on-time performance of 97%, based on our internal data.
Our Competitive Strengths
      Our principal competitive strengths are:
      We Keep Our Operating Costs Low. Our cost per available seat kilometer for the year ended December 31, 2004 was R$15.7 cents, or approximately US$5.9 cents. We believe that our cost per available seat kilometer for the year ended December 31, 2004, as adjusted for the average number of kilometers flown per flight, was one of the lowest in the airline industry worldwide, and was on average approximately 30% lower than that of our primary competitors, based upon our analysis of publicly available data. Typically, airline operating costs per kilometer decrease as flight length increases. Our low operating costs are the result of being innovative and using best practices adopted from other leading low-cost carriers to improve our operating efficiency, including:
  Efficient use of aircraft. During 2004, our aircraft flew an average of 13.6 block hours per day, the highest aircraft utilization rate in the Brazilian domestic airline industry, according to the DAC, and among the highest worldwide, according to airline company public filings. Our efficient use of our fleet has helped us to generate revenue at times when the aircraft of our competitors are still on the ground and has allowed us to spread our fixed costs over a greater number of flights and available seat kilometers. We also offer air cargo services on our flights to generate incremental revenues from space in the stronghold section of our aircraft that would otherwise remain unutilized.
 
  Operation of a simplified fleet. Currently, we operate a simplified fleet type consisting of 29 Boeing 737 aircraft. We have firm orders and purchase options for up to 63 Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft. Delivery of the current firm order aircraft is scheduled to occur between 2006 and 2009 and the purchase options are exercisable for deliveries between 2007 and 2010.
 
  Use of efficient, low-cost distribution channels. Our effective use of technology helps us to keep our costs low and our operations highly scaleable and efficient. We seek to keep our distribution channels streamlined and convenient so as to allow our customers to interact with us directly via the internet. Approximately 80% of our ticket sales are through our website, and our customers can purchase tickets and check-in for their flights online and by web-enabled cell phones. As a result of our emphasis on low-cost distribution channels, we generate more revenues from online ticket sales than any other company in Brazil.
 
  Flexible and efficient operating approach. We always seek the most cost-effective way of providing our services to our customers without compromising quality and safety. We constantly evaluate our operations to see if sensible cost-savings opportunities exist. As a result, we outsource the work that can be done properly and more efficiently by third parties and we internalize the functions that our employees can do more cost-efficiently.

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      We Stimulate Demand for Our Services. We believe that through our low fares and high-quality service, we provide the best value in our markets and create demand for air travel services. Our average fares are lower than the average fares of our primary competitors. By combining low fares with simple and reliable service that treats passengers equally in a single-class environment, we have successfully increased our market share, strengthened customer loyalty and are attracting a new group of air travelers in our markets. We estimate that approximately 10% of the customers on our flights are either first time flyers or have not flown for more than one year.
      We Have One of the Newest Fleets in the Industry. Our current fleet of 29 Boeing 737 aircraft has an average age of 6.8 years, making our fleet the newest in South America and among the newest in the industry worldwide. We believe that the firm orders and purchase options we have for the delivery of up to 63 new Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft, with expected delivery dates between 2006 and 2010, will help us to retain the competitive advantage of a young fleet. Our new fleet has enabled us to enjoy a high degree of performance reliability and to develop a reputation among customers for being an airline that delivers a safe, on-time, modern and comfortable travel experience. Our Boeing 737-800/700 Next Generation aircraft type provides us with state-of-the-art technology and aerodynamics with increased flying speed, improved fuel efficiency and simplified maintenance procedures.
      We Have a Strong Brand that Is Widely Recognized Among Consumers. We believe that the Gol brand has become synonymous with innovation and value in the Brazilian domestic airline industry. Gol was chosen as the 2004 “Company of the Year” by the annual Melhores e Maiores (The Biggest and Best) edition of Exame magazine, one of the most important business publications in Brazil. Our customers also identify us as being accessible, friendly, fair and reliable and distinguish us in Brazil’s domestic airline industry on the basis of our modern and simplified approach to providing air travel services. Customer satisfaction surveys conducted in 2004 by Omni Marketing, an independent third-party market research firm, indicated that more than nine out of every ten passengers are satisfied with Gol, would fly again with Gol and consider Gol to be an innovative, modern and practical company.
      We Have a Strong Financial Position. We have focused on maintaining a strong financial position with significant cash balances and a low debt to capitalization ratio. As of December 31, 2004, we had R$405.7 million of cash and cash equivalents, R$443.4 million of short-term investments, R$386.4 million of accounts receivable and R$289.4 million of U.S. dollar denominated deposits for aircraft leasing and aircraft engine maintenance contracts, representing a total of R$1,524.9 million. As of December 31, 2004, our debt to capitalization ratio was 9.3%.
      We Actively Manage Risk. We actively monitor movements in fuel prices, foreign exchange rates and interest rates. To date, we have been able to adjust our fares to compensate for changes in fuel prices and the exchange rate of the real versus the U.S. dollar. Our general policy is to hedge on a short-term basis price fluctuations for a majority of the fuel we expect to consume and our U.S. dollar exchange rate exposure, so as to minimize the effects of adverse changes in fuel prices or the foreign exchange markets.
      We Have a Motivated Workforce and a Proven Management Team. We benefit from a highly motivated workforce that brings a new enthusiasm to air travel and a commitment to high standards of friendly and reliable quality service that we believe distinguishes us in our markets. We invest a significant amount of time and resources into carefully developing the best training practices and selecting individuals to join our team who share our focus on ingenuity and continuous improvement. Our top managers have an average of approximately 20 years of experience in the Brazilian passenger transportation industries, and this experience has helped us to develop the most effective elements of our low-cost model. We also motivate our workforce by providing our employees with profit sharing and through participation in our stock option program.
Our Strategy
      To continue the growth of our business and increase its profitability, our strategy will be to further stimulate customer demand by continuing to offer a single-class of air travel service at low fares, while maintaining a high standard of quality and safety. We will strive to keep our operating costs low and will relentlessly pursue ways to make our operations more efficient. We will continue to evaluate opportunities to

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expand our operations by adding additional flights to existing high-demand and night-flight domestic routes, adding new domestic routes where sufficient market demand exists and expanding into other high-traffic centers in other South American countries.
      Our vision is to be recognized by 2010 as the airline that popularized high-quality, low-fare air transportation in South America. The following are the key elements of our strategy:
      To Expand Our Customer Base by Offering Services to High-Demand or Overpriced Routes. When planning the growth of our business, we will continue to establish bases, select our routes and build the frequency of our service based upon the extent and type of demand in the regions we serve in Brazil and other South American countries. We expect to increase our focus on business travelers from medium-sized companies, a growing customer base that tends to be more price sensitive, by closely monitoring the routes and flight frequencies that best serve their travel needs and increasing our marketing efforts directed at this segment of our customer base. We are also very focused on stimulating demand and capturing market share in both the leisure and “visiting friends and relatives” market segments.
      To Continue to Reduce Our Operating Costs. Continuing to reduce our operating costs per available seat kilometer is a key to increasing profitability. We aim to remain one of the lowest cost airlines in the world. To date, we have worked toward achieving this goal by assembling a new fleet of single-class aircraft that is capable of safely and reliably accommodating a high utilization rate, incurs low maintenance costs and is fuel-efficient. We are also working to achieve this goal by using our aircraft efficiently, concentrating on minimizing our turnaround times at airports and increasing our number of daily flights per aircraft. We will also continue to utilize technological innovations wherever possible to reduce our distribution costs and improve our operating efficiency. We expect to benefit from economies of scale and reduce our average cost per available seat kilometer as we add additional aircraft to an established and efficient operating infrastructure.
      To Keep Our Customer Service Offering Simple and Convenient. We believe that we are perceived by our customers as providing excellent value at reasonable fares. In addition to offering low fares, our strategy is to make flying a simpler, more convenient experience. We have achieved this objective largely through the elimination of unnecessary extras and common-sense applications of technology. We offer customers single-class, pre-assigned seating flights, and we do not overbook our flights. We will continue to seek ways to make the Gol brand signify simplicity and convenience in the minds of air travelers.
      To Stimulate Demand with Low Fares. Our widely available low fares and superior product offering are designed to popularize air travel and stimulate demand, particularly from fare-conscious leisure travelers and small-to mid-size business travelers who might otherwise have used alternative forms of transportation or would not have traveled at all. Our strategy is to continue to stimulate demand and encourage more people to fly by continuing to provide a superior product and low fares.
Industry Overview
      Most long-distance public travel services within Brazil are provided by interstate bus companies. In 2003, Brazil’s domestic airline industry transported almost 30 million passengers, as compared to over 132 million passengers transported by interstate bus companies in 2003, according to the Brazilian Department of Highways (Departamento de Transportes Rodoviários). Brazil has no meaningful interstate passenger rail services.
      The business travel segment is the largest component of Brazilian air transportation demand and the most profitable in the market. According to the DAC, business travel represented approximately 70% of the total demand for domestic air travel in 2003, which we believe is significantly higher than the proportion of domestic air travel in the global aviation sector that is comprised of business travel. According to data collected from the DAC, flights between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo accounted for 12.5% and 12.8% of all domestic passengers in 2002 and 2003, respectively. The ten busiest city pair routes accounted for 35.5% and 37.1% of all domestic air passengers in 2002 and 2003, respectively.
      The scheduled domestic passenger airline industry in Brazil is primarily served by Gol and two main competitors—Varig S.A.—Viação Aérea Riograndense, or Varig, and TAM Linhas Aéreas S.A., or TAM. By the end of 2004, Gol, TAM and Varig accounted for over 97% of the market share of domestic regular routes,

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measured in terms of revenue passenger kilometers. Varig has significant levels of indebtedness, and its financial condition and prospects are uncertain.
      Since air transportation has historically been affordable only to the higher income segment of Brazil’s population, resulting in a comparatively low level of air travel, we believe that the low-cost, low-fare business model has the potential to significantly increase the use of air transportation in Brazil. According to the DAC, there were 29.2 million domestic enplanements and 7.8 million international enplanements in Brazil in 2003, out of a total population of approximately 181 million, according to the Brazilian Geographical and Statistical Institute (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística— IBGE). In contrast, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the United States had 587.5 million domestic and 116.9 million international enplanements in 2003, out of a total population of approximately 293 million, according to the latest U.S. census figures. By way of further comparison, Atlanta’s Hartsfield International Airport, the busiest airport in the United States, by itself had 37.7 million domestic enplanements in 2004.
      From 1997 to 2004, the compound annual growth rate in industry passenger traffic, in terms of revenue passenger kilometers, was 6.8% versus a compound annual growth rate in available industry capacity, in terms of available seat kilometers, of 4.7%. Industry load factors, calculated as revenue passenger kilometers divided by available seat kilometers, have averaged 59% over the same period. The table below shows the figures of domestic industry passenger traffic and available capacity for the periods indicated:
                                                                 
    1997   1998   1999   2000   2001   2002   2003   2004
                                 
    (in millions, except percentages)
Available Seat Kilometers
    31,146       38,121       40,323       41,437       45,008       47,109       41,927       42,991  
Available Seat Kilometers Growth
    8.7%       22.4%       5.8%       2.8%       8.6%       4.7%       (11.0)%       2.5%  
Revenue Passenger Kilometers
    17,824       22,539       22,204       24,284       26,296       26,780       25,180       28,186  
Revenue Passenger Kilometers Growth
    7.5%       26.5%       (1.5)%       9.4%       8.3%       1.8%       (6.0)%       11.9%  
Load Factor
    57.2%       59.1%       55.1%       58.6%       58.4%       56.8%       60.1%       65.6%  
 
Source: DAC, for 1997 to 2002 from Anuário Estatístico; and for 2003 and 2004 from Dados Comparativos Avançados (2004 numbers are preliminary).
     Historically, domestic airline industry revenue growth has generally surpassed Brazilian gross domestic product growth. From 1997 to 2003, domestic airline industry revenue grew at a real compound annual growth rate of 6.2% (as adjusted by the IPCA inflation index) while Brazilian gross domestic product, or GDP, grew at a real compound annual growth rate of 1.5% over the same period, according to data collected from the DAC and the Central Bank.
      Set forth in the table below is the number of passengers traveling by air between Brazil and other specified South American countries during 2003, as well as the GDP and population of each listed country.
                                 
            GDP   Population
Country   Enplanements   Percentage of Total   (in billions)   (in millions)
                 
Argentina
    1,223,599       51.6%     US$ 129.7       37.9  
Chile
    384,230       16.2%       72.1       16.0  
Uruguay
    251,359       10.6%       11.2       3.4  
Bolivia
    149,950       6.3%       8.6       8.8  
Paraguay
    144,252       6.1%       5.8       6.0  
Colombia
    87,769       3.7%       77.8       45.3  
Peru
    82,528       3.5%       60.6       27.5  
Venezuela
    48,833       2.0%       84.9       26.2  
                         
Total
    2,372,520       100%     US$ 450.7       171.1  
                         
 
Sources: IMF World Economic Outlook April 2004, Population Reference Bureau: 2004 World Population Data Sheet and Emplanements: DAC

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Brazilian Economic Environment
      The Labor Party government administration has largely continued the macroeconomic policies of the previous administration, focusing on fiscal responsibility. In 2003, investor confidence rebounded as a result and the real appreciated by 18.2% against the U.S. dollar to R$2.889 per US$1.00 at December 31, 2003. Inflation in 2003, as measured by the IGP-M, decreased to 8.7%. However, Brazil’s GDP increased 0.5% to US$506.8 billion during 2003, despite the very high interest rates that prevailed at the beginning of 2003 to combat inflationary pressures, which also acted to constrain economic growth.
      During 2004, Brazil’s GDP increased 5.2% to US$559.6 billion and the country achieved a trade surplus of US$33.7 billion, its highest trade surplus ever. Inflation in 2004, as measured by the IGP-M, was 12.4%, and 7.6% as measured by the IPCA. The Brazilian Central Bank’s year-end inflation target for each of 2005 and 2006 is 4.5%, based on the IPCA index, within a band of 2.5 and 2.0 percentage points, respectively. Interest rates continued to be high, with the CDI rate averaging 17.8% in 2004. In 2004, the real appreciated by 8.1% against the U.S. dollar, reflecting continued investor confidence. On April 27, 2005, the U.S. dollar/real exchange rate was R$2.5195 per US$1.00.
Recent Developments
      For the three-month period ended March 31, 2005, we generated net operating revenues of R$589.2 million, as compared to net revenues of R$433.1 million for the corresponding period in 2004, an increase of 36.0%. During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2005 and March 31, 2004, we had available seat kilometers of 2,728 million and 2,144 million, respectively, revenue passenger kilometers of 2,002 million and 1,544 million, respectively, revenues per available seat kilometer of R$21.59 cents and R$20.20 cents, respectively, and a load factor of 73.4% and 72.0%, respectively. The following table sets forth our net operating revenues, available seat kilometers, revenues per available seat kilometer and load factor for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2005:
                         
    2005   2004   Change
             
Net operating revenues (in millions)
  R $589.2     R $433.1       36.0%  
Available seat kilometers (in millions)(1)
    2,728       2,144       27.3%  
Revenue passenger kilometers (in millions)(1)
    2,002       1,544       29.7%  
Revenues per available seat kilometer (in cents)
  R $21.59     R $20.20       6.9%  
Load factor(1)
    73.4 %     72.0 %     + 1.4 p.p.  
 
(1)  Source: DAC—final data for 2004 and preliminary data for 2005.
 
     The Registrant was formed on March 12, 2004 as a sociedade por ações, a stock corporation duly incorporated under the laws of Brazil with unlimited duration. The Registrant’s only material assets consist of common and preferred shares of Gol, an offshore finance subsidiary and cash. The Registrant owns all of Gol’s common and preferred shares, except for five common shares and three Class B preferred shares of Gol that are held by members of Gol’s board of directors for eligibility purposes.
 
      Our principal executive offices are located at Rua Tamoios 246, Jardim Aeroporto, 04630-000 São Paulo, SP, Brazil, and our general telephone number is +55 11 5033-4200. The telephone number of our investor relations department is +55 11 5033-4393. The telephone number of our ticket sales center in Brazil is 0300 789-2121, 81 0266-3131 in Argentina, and +55 11 2125-3200 from other countries outside Brazil. Our website address is www.voegol.com.br and our website is available in Portuguese, Spanish and English. Investor information can be found on our website under the caption “Investor Relations.” Information contained on our website is not incorporated by reference in, and shall not be considered a part of, this prospectus.

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THE GLOBAL OFFERING
Preferred shares offered in the global offering 14,700,000 non-voting preferred shares, of which 5,520,811 preferred shares are being offered by us and 9,179,189 preferred shares are being offered by BSSF Air Holdings LLC.
 
The global offering The global offering consists of the international offering and the Brazilian offering.
 
International offering 5,586,000 ADSs, representing 11,172,000 preferred shares, are being offered through the international underwriters in the United States and in other countries outside Brazil.
 
Brazilian offering Concurrently with the international offering, 3,528,000 preferred shares are being offered in a public offering in Brazil.
 
Over-allotment option We have granted the underwriters the right for a period of 30 days to purchase up to an additional 2,205,000 preferred shares to cover over-allotments, if any.
 
The ADSs Each ADS will represent two preferred shares. The ADSs will be evidenced by American Depositary Receipts, or ADRs. The ADSs will be issued under a deposit agreement among us, The Bank of New York, as depositary, and the registered holders and beneficial owners from time to time of ADSs issued thereunder.
 
Selling shareholder BSSF Air Holdings LLC.
 
Total shares outstanding after the offering 193,064,054 shares, consisting of 109,448,497 common shares and 83,615,557 preferred shares, not including preferred shares reserved for issuance under stock options. We have outstanding options to purchase up to 1,024,830 of our preferred shares.
 
Depositary The Bank of New York.
 
Voting rights Holders of the ADSs and our preferred shares have no voting rights except in connection with certain matters. See “Description of Capital Stock—Voting Rights” and “Description of American Depositary Shares—Voting Rights.”
 
Liquidation preference Upon liquidation, holders of preferred shares are entitled to receive a return of capital prior to any distribution to the holders of our common shares.
 
Tag-along rights Unlike holders of preferred shares of companies incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware, which typically do not have the benefit of tag-along rights, holders of our preferred shares are entitled to be included in a public tender offer in case our controlling shareholder sells its controlling stake in us, and the minimum price to be offered for each preferred share is 100% of the price paid per share of the controlling stake.
 
Lock-up agreements We, our directors and executive officers, Comporte Participações S.A., Aeropar Participações S.A. and BSSF Air Holdings LLC have agreed with the international underwriters that, subject to certain exceptions, we and they will not issue or transfer, until 90 days after the date of this prospectus, any ADSs or preferred shares or any options or warrants to

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purchase ADSs or preferred shares, or any securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, or that represent rights to receive, ADSs or preferred shares. See “Underwriters.”
 
Risk factors See “Risk Factors” beginning on page 13 and the other information included in this prospectus for a discussion of factors you should consider before deciding to invest in the ADSs or our preferred shares.
 
Use of proceeds We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for the purchase and lease of additional Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of preferred shares (including preferred shares in the form of ADSs) by the selling shareholder.
 
Dividends Brazilian corporation law requires us to distribute at least 25% of our annual adjusted net income, as calculated under Brazilian GAAP and adjusted under the Brazilian corporation law (which differs significantly from net income as calculated under U.S. GAAP). The holders of ADSs will be entitled to receive dividends to the same extent as the owners of our preferred shares, subject to the deduction of any charges of the depositary with respect to foreign exchange conversion. Unlike preferred shares of companies incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware, which are typically entitled to a fixed dividend established pursuant to the company’s articles of incorporation, our preferred shares are not entitled to fixed dividends but are instead entitled to receive dividends per share in the same amount of the dividends per share paid to holders of our common shares. See “Dividends and Dividend Payments.”
 
Listing The ADSs trade on the NYSE under the symbol “GOL” and our preferred shares trade on the BOVESPA under the symbol “GOLL4.”

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SUMMARY FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA
      The following table presents summary historical consolidated financial and operating data for us for each of the periods indicated. You should read this information in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes, and the information under “Selected Financial and Operating Data” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this prospectus.
      The Registrant is a holding company that was incorporated on March 12, 2004, and the shares of Gol, an offshore finance subsidiary, cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments are currently the Registrant’s only material assets.
      Gol was incorporated in August 2000 but did not begin transporting passengers until January 2001. During the period between August 2000 and December 31, 2000, our activities consisted solely of organizational activities relating to the commencement of our operations, and we did not have any significant income or expenses. The consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and reflect our financial condition and results of operations as if the Registrant had been incorporated and held all of the capital stock of Gol since January 1, 2001, except for five common shares and three Class B preferred shares of Gol held by members of Gol’s board of directors for eligibility purposes. On June 29, 2004, the Registrant completed its initial public offering through the issuance of 18,750,000 preferred shares. See “Description of Capital Stock.”
      The as adjusted balance sheet data gives effect to the receipt of approximately US$73.3 million in estimated net proceeds from the issuance and sale by us of 5,520,811 preferred shares, including 1,992,811 preferred shares in the form of ADSs, in the global offering.
      Solely for the convenience of the reader, real amounts as of and for the year ended December 31, 2004 have been translated into U.S. dollars at the commercial market rate as reported by the Central Bank on December 31, 2004 of R$2.6544 to US$1.00.
                                             
    Year Ended December 31,
     
    2001   2002   2003   2004   2004
                     
    (in thousands)
Net operating revenues:
                                       
 
Passenger
  R$ 223,384     R$ 643,549     R$ 1,339,191     R$ 1,875,475     US$ 706,553  
 
Cargo and other
    7,089       34,330       61,399       85,411       32,177  
                               
   
Total net operating revenues
    230,473       677,879       1,400,590       1,960,886       738,730  
Operating expenses:
                                       
 
Salaries, wages and benefits
    33,263       77,855       137,638       183,037       68,956  
 
Aircraft fuel
    45,769       160,537       308,244       459,192       172,993  
 
Aircraft rent
    58,816       130,755       188,841       195,504       73,653  
 
Aircraft insurance
    7,556       23,186       25,850       25,575       9,635  
 
Sales and marketing
    35,299       96,626       191,280       261,756       98,612  
 
Landing fees
    14,602       32,758       47,924       57,393       21,622  
 
Aircraft and traffic servicing
    18,563       47,381       58,710       74,825       28,189  
 
Maintenance, materials and repairs
    4,773       16,160       42,039       51,796       19,513  
 
Depreciation
    2,383       7,885       13,844       21,242       8,003  
 
Other operating expenses
    7,741       22,654       44,494       54,265       20,443  
                               
   
Total operating expenses
    228,765       615,797       1,058,864       1,384,585       521,619  
Operating income
    1,708       62,082       341,726       576,301       217,111  

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    Year Ended December 31,
     
    2001   2002   2003   2004   2004
                     
    (in thousands)
Other expenses:
                                       
 
Interest expense
    (3,350 )     (16,530 )     (20,910 )     (13,445 )     (5,065 )
 
Financial income (expense), net
    (1,997 )     7,447       (56,681 )     24,424       9,201  
Income (loss) before income taxes
    (3,639 )     52,999       264,135       587,280       221,247  
 
Income taxes current
          (1,396 )     (60,747 )     (165,710 )     (62,428 )
 
Income taxes deferred
          (16,246 )     (27,929 )     (36,860 )     (13,886 )
                               
Net income (loss)
  R$ (3,639 )   R$ 35,357     R$ 175,459     R$ 384,710     US$ 144,933  
                               
Earnings (loss) per share, basic (1)
  R$ (0.06 )   R$ 0.36     R$ 1.07     R$ 2.14     US$ 0.81  
Earnings (loss) per share, diluted (1)
                      2.13       0.80  
Weighted average shares used in computing earnings per share, basic (in thousands)(1)
    56,000       98,268       164,410       179,731          
Weighted average shares used in computing earnings per share, diluted (in thousands)(1)
                      180,557          
Earnings per ADS, basic
        R$ 0.72     R$ 2.14     R$ 4.28     US$ 1.62  
Earnings per ADS, diluted
                      4.26       1.60  
                                 
    As of December 31, 2004
    Actual   As Adjusted
         
    (in thousands)
Balance Sheet Data:
                               
Cash and cash equivalents
  R$ 405,730     US$ 152,852     R$ 600,372     US$ 226,180  
Short-term investments
    443,361       167,029       443,361       167,029  
Accounts receivable(2)
    386,370       145,558       386,370       145,558  
Deposits for aircraft leases and aircraft and engine maintenance contracts
    289,416       109,032       289,416       109,032  
Total assets
    1,734,284       653,361       1,928,926       726,689  
Short term debt
    118,349       44,586       118,349       44,586  
Long term debt
                       
Shareholders’ equity
    1,148,453       432,660       1,343,095       505,988  
                                         
    Year Ended December 31,
     
    2001   2002   2003   2004   2004
                     
    (in thousands, except percentages)
Other Financial Data:
                                       
Operating margin(3)
    0.7 %     9.2 %     24.4 %     29.4 %     29.4 %
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
  R$ (19,213 )   R$ 17,023     R$ 85,235     R$ 274,093     US$ 103,261  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (29,666 )     (34,479 )     (39,263 )     (533,042 )     (200,815 )
Net cash provided by financing activities
    53,239       21,752       90,867       518,388       195,293  
EBITDA(4)
    4,091       69,967       355,570       597,543       225,114  
Aircraft rent(4)
    58,816       130,755       188,841       195,504       73,653  

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    Year Ended December 31,
     
    2001   2002   2003   2004
                 
Operating Data (unaudited):
                               
Revenue passengers (in thousands)
    2,085       4,847       7,324       9,215  
Revenue passenger kilometers (in millions)
    1,256       3,156       4,835       6,289  
Available seat kilometers (in millions)
    2,091       5,049       7,527       8,844  
Load factor
    60.1 %     62.5 %     64.2 %     71.1 %
Breakeven load factor
    61.5 %     59.8 %     50.8 %     52.5 %
Aircraft utilization (block hours per day)
    11.1       12.3       12.8       13.6  
Average fare
  R$ 115     R$ 140     R$ 195     R$ 210  
Yield per passenger kilometer (cents)
    17.8       20.4       27.7       29.8  
Passenger revenue per available seat kilometer (cents)
    10.7       12.7       17.8       21.2  
Operating revenue per available seat kilometer (cents)
    11.0       13.4       18.6       22.2  
Operating expense per available seat kilometer (cents)
    10.9       12.2       14.1       15.7  
Operating expense less fuel expense per available seat kilometer (cents)
    8.8       9.0       9.9       10.5  
Departures
    24,727       52,665       75,439       87,708  
Departures per day
    68       144       207       240  
Destinations served
    16       22       25       36  
Average stage length (kilometers)
    613       628       659       689  
Average number of operating aircraft during period
    7.7       15.3       21.6       22.3  
Full-time equivalent employees at period end
    1,134       2,072       2,453       3,307  
Fuel liters consumed (in thousands)
    77,850       164,008       264,402       317,444  
Percentage of sales through website during period
    13.2 %     48.7 %     57.9 %     76.4 %
Percentage of sales through website and call center during period
    81.6 %     72.1 %     74.1 %     83.6 %
 
(1)  Our preferred shares are not entitled to any fixed dividend preferences, but are instead entitled to receive dividends per share in the same amount of dividends per share paid to holders of our common shares. However, our preferred shares are entitled to receive distributions prior to holders of the common shares. Consequently, our earnings (loss) per share are computed by dividing income by the weighted average number of all classes of shares outstanding during the year. Preferred shares are excluded during any loss period. We have no dilutive securities.
 
(2)  In managing our liquidity, we take into account our cash and cash equivalents and our accounts receivable balances. Accounts receivable consist primarily of credit card receivables for purchased passenger tickets. As we provide our customers with the option to pay in installments over a period not exceeding 12 months, we currently have an approximate one-month lag between the time that we pay our suppliers and the time that we receive payment for our services.
 
(3)  Operating margin represents operating income divided by net operating revenues.
 
(4)  EBITDA represents net income (loss) plus the sum of other income (expense), income taxes and depreciation. EBITDA is presented as supplemental information because we believe it is a useful indicator of our operating performance and is useful in comparing our operating performance with other companies in the airline industry. However, EBITDA should not be considered in isolation, as a substitute for net income prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP or as a measure of a company’s profitability. In addition, our calculation of EBITDA may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. The following table presents a reconciliation of our net income to EBITDA for the specified periods.

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    Year Ended December 31,
     
    2001   2002   2003   2004   2004
                     
    (in thousands)
EBITDA Reconciliation:(1)
                                       
Net income (loss)
  R$ (3,639 )   R$ 35,357     R$ 175,459     R$ 384,710     US$ 144,933  
Plus (minus)
                                       
Income taxes
          17,642       88,676       202,570       76,314  
Net interest and financial expense
    5,347       9,083       77,591       (10,979 )     (4,136 )
Depreciation
    2,383       7,885       13,844       21,242       8,003  
                               
EBITDA
  R$ 4,091     R$ 69,967     R$ 355,570     R$ 597,543     US$ 225,114  
                               
 
(1)  Aircraft rent represents a significant operating expense of our business. Because we leased all of our aircraft during the periods presented, we believe that when assessing our EBITDA you should also consider the impact of our aircraft rent expense, which was R$58,816 in 2001, R$130,755 in 2002, R$188,841 in 2003, and R$195,504 in 2004.

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RISK FACTORS
      An investment in the ADSs or our preferred shares involves a high degree of risk. You should carefully consider the risks described below before making an investment decision. Our business, financial condition and results of operations could be materially and adversely affected by any of these risks. The trading price of the ADSs could decline due to any of these risks or other factors, and you may lose all or part of your investment. The risks described below are those that we currently believe may materially affect us.
Risks Relating to Brazil
The Brazilian government has exercised, and continues to exercise, significant influence over the Brazilian economy. This involvement, as well as Brazilian political and economic conditions, could adversely affect our business and the trading price of our ADSs and our preferred shares.
      The Brazilian government frequently intervenes in the Brazilian economy and occasionally makes significant changes in policy and regulations. The Brazilian government’s actions to control inflation and other policies and regulations have often involved, among other measures, increases in interest rates, changes in tax policies, price controls, currency devaluations, capital controls and limits on imports. Our business, financial condition and results of operations may be adversely affected by changes in policy or regulations at the federal, state or municipal levels involving or affecting factors such as:
  interest rates;
 
  exchange controls;
 
  currency fluctuations;
 
  inflation;
 
  liquidity of domestic capital and lending markets;
 
  tax policies; and
 
  other political, social and economic developments in or affecting Brazil.
      Uncertainty over whether the Brazilian government will implement changes in policy or regulation affecting these or other factors in the future may contribute to economic uncertainty in Brazil and to heightened volatility in the Brazilian securities markets and securities issued abroad that are supported by Brazilian issuers. These and other future developments in the Brazilian economy and governmental policies may adversely affect us and our business and results of operations and may adversely affect the trading price of our ADSs and our preferred shares.
Exchange rate instability may adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations and the market price of the ADSs and our preferred shares.
      As a result of inflationary pressures, among other factors, the Brazilian currency has devalued periodically during the last four decades. Throughout this period, the Brazilian government has implemented various economic plans and utilized a number of exchange rate policies, including sudden devaluations, periodic mini-devaluations during which the frequency of adjustments has ranged from daily to monthly, floating exchange rate systems, exchange controls and dual exchange rate markets. Although over long periods depreciation of the Brazilian currency generally has correlated with the rate of inflation in Brazil, devaluation over shorter periods has resulted in significant fluctuations in the exchange rate between the Brazilian currency and the U.S. dollar and other currencies.
      The real depreciated against the U.S. dollar by 9.3% in 2000 and by 18.7% in 2001. In 2002, the real depreciated 52.3% against the U.S. dollar, due in part to political uncertainty surrounding the Brazilian presidential elections and the global economic slowdown. Although the real appreciated 18.2% and 8.1% against the U.S. dollar in 2003 and 2004, respectively, no assurance can be given that the real will not

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depreciate or be devalued against the U.S. dollar again. On April 27, 2005, the U.S. dollar/real exchange rate was R$2.5195 per US$1.00. See “Exchange Rates.”
      Substantially all of our passenger revenue and cargo revenue and temporary investments are denominated in reais, and a significant part of our operating expenses, such as fuel, aircraft and engine maintenance services, aircraft rent payments and aircraft insurance, are denominated in, or linked to, U.S. dollars. We maintain U.S. dollar-denominated deposits and maintenance reserve accounts under the terms of our aircraft operating leases. For the year ended December 31, 2004, 49% of our operating expenses were either denominated in or linked to the U.S. dollar. In addition, the purchase price of the 30 737-800 Boeing Next Generation aircraft for which we have placed firm orders and the 33 737-800 Boeing Next Generation aircraft for which we have purchase options are denominated in U.S. dollars. While in the past we have generally adjusted our fares in response to, and to alleviate the effect of, depreciations of the real and increases in the price of jet fuel and have entered into hedging arrangements to protect us against the effects of depreciations of the real and increases in the price of jet fuel, there can be no assurance we will be able to continue to do so. Any depreciation of the real or increases in the price of jet fuel for which we are unable to adjust our fares or effectively hedge against may lead to a decrease in our profit margins or to operating losses caused by increases in U.S. dollar-denominated costs, increases in interest expense or exchange losses on unhedged fixed obligations and indebtedness denominated in foreign currency. We had total U.S. dollar-denominated future operating lease payment obligations of US$286.1 million (including long-term vendor payables) and no other U.S. dollar-denominated indebtedness at December 31, 2004. Our U.S. dollar-denominated deposits and maintenance reserve accounts totaled R$289.4 million at December 31, 2004. We may incur substantial amounts of U.S. dollar-denominated operating lease or financial obligations, fuel costs linked to the U.S. dollar and U.S. dollar-denominated indebtedness in the future. We currently have a hedging program in place for our U.S. dollar-denominated operating lease obligations, our U.S. dollar-linked jet fuel expenses and our interest rate exposure.
      Historically, depreciations of the real relative to the U.S. dollar have also created additional inflationary pressures in Brazil, and future depreciations could negatively affect us. Depreciations generally curtail access to foreign financial markets and may prompt government intervention, including recessionary governmental policies. Depreciations also reduce the U.S. dollar value of distributions and dividends on the ADSs and the U.S. dollar equivalent of the market price of our preferred shares and, as a result, the ADSs.
Inflation and government efforts to combat inflation may contribute significantly to economic uncertainty in Brazil and could harm our business and the market value of the ADSs and our preferred shares.
      Brazil has in the past experienced extremely high rates of inflation. More recently, Brazil’s annual rate of inflation was 10.0% in 2000, 10.4% in 2001, 25.3% in 2002, 8.7% in 2003 and 12.4% in 2004 (as measured by Índice Geral de Preços–Mercado, or the IGP-M). Inflation, and certain government actions taken to combat inflation, have in the past had significant negative effects on the Brazilian economy. Actions taken to curb inflation, coupled with public speculation about possible future governmental actions, have contributed to economic uncertainty in Brazil and heightened volatility in the Brazilian securities market. Future Brazilian government actions, including interest rate decreases, intervention in the foreign exchange market and actions to adjust or fix the value of the real may trigger increases in inflation. If Brazil experiences high inflation in the future, we may not be able to adjust the fares we charge our customers to offset the effects of inflation on our cost structure. Inflationary pressures may also hinder our ability to access foreign financial markets or lead to government policies to combat inflation that could harm our business or adversely affect the market value of our preferred shares and, as a result, the ADSs.
Developments and the perception of risk in other countries, especially emerging market countries, may adversely affect the market price of Brazilian securities, including the ADSs and our preferred shares.
      The market value of securities of Brazilian companies is affected to varying degrees by economic and market conditions in other countries, including other Latin American and emerging market countries. Although economic conditions in such countries may differ significantly from economic conditions in Brazil, investors’ reactions to developments in these other countries may have an adverse effect on the market value of

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securities of Brazilian issuers. Crises in other emerging market countries may diminish investor interest in securities of Brazilian issuers, including ours. This could adversely affect the trading price of the ADSs or our preferred shares, and could also make it more difficult for us to access the capital markets and finance our operations in the future on acceptable terms or at all.
Risks Relating to Us and the Brazilian Airline Industry
Changes to the Brazilian civil aviation regulatory framework may adversely affect our business and results of operations.
      The DAC is in charge of approving all new flight routes, as well as modifications to existing flight routes and increases in flight frequencies. In addition, the importation of any new aircraft is subject to approval by the Commission for Coordination of Civil Air Transportation (Comissão de Coordenação de Transporte Aéreo Civil, or COTAC), a sub-department of the DAC. In recent years, the DAC has actively monitored developments in Brazil’s airline market and has taken certain restrictive measures that have helped to restore greater stability to the industry. For example, the DAC has addressed overcapacity by establishing stricter criteria that must be met before new routes or additional flight frequencies are awarded. Our growth plans contemplate expanding into new markets, increasing flight frequencies and operating considerably more than our existing 29 aircraft. As of December 31, 2004, we had authorizations to operate 31 aircraft. As such, our ability to grow generally depends on receiving the required authorizations from the DAC and the COTAC. We cannot assure you that future authorizations will be granted to us. If the Brazilian civil aviation framework changes in the future, or the DAC or COTAC implements increased restrictions, our growth plans and our business and results of operations could be adversely affected.
      Several legislative initiatives have been taken, including the preparation of a draft bill of law that would replace Law No. 7,565 of December 19, 1986, the current Brazilian Aeronautical Code (Código Brasileiro de Aeronáutica), the submission of proposed new civil aviation public policy guidelines to the Ministry of Defense for approval and a bill of law providing for the creation of a national civil aviation agency that would replace the DAC as the primary regulator of the Brazilian airline industry. No assurance can be given that these or other changes in the Brazilian airline industry regulations will not have a material adverse effect on our business and results of operations.
We operate in a highly competitive industry.
      We face intense competition on our domestic routes in Brazil. The Brazilian aviation authorities have the flexibility to allow or deny new entrants in our market. We may face increased competition from new entrants in the Brazilian airline business in the future. In 2003, the Civil Aviation National Council (Conselho de Aviação Civil, or CONAC) issued guidelines regarding the need to increase barriers to the entry of new concessionaires and to limit the acquisition of new aircraft and the granting of new routes to existing concessionaires in order to protect the financial performance of the Brazilian airline industry as a whole. We cannot predict what impact the implementation of these restrictions might have on our competitive environment or our business.
      Our existing competitors or new entrants into the market may undercut our fares in the future, increase capacity on their routes in an effort to increase their market share or attempt to conduct low-fare or low-cost airline operations of their own. In such an event, we cannot assure you that our level of fares or passenger traffic would not be adversely affected. We may also face competition from international airlines as we introduce flights between Brazil and other South American destinations.
      One of our competitors, Varig, has significant levels of indebtedness, and its financial condition and prospects are uncertain. In the past, the Brazilian government, Varig’s biggest creditor, has allowed certain airline companies to restructure their government-related debt. If the Brazilian government provides support to Varig, Varig may be better able to compete with us.

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      In addition to competition among airline companies, the Brazilian airline industry faces competition from ground transportation alternatives, such as interstate buses. Such competition may have an adverse impact on our business and results of operations.
Because we have a limited operating history, it is difficult to evaluate an investment in the ADSs and our preferred shares.
      Because we have a limited operating history, having commenced operations in January 2001, it may be difficult to evaluate our future prospects and an investment in the ADSs and our preferred shares. Our prospects are uncertain and must be considered in light of the risks, uncertainties and difficulties frequently encountered by companies with a limited operating history. Our future performance will depend upon a number of factors, including our ability to:
  implement our growth strategy;
 
  continue to provide high quality, reliable customer service at low fares;
 
  choose new markets successfully;
 
  stimulate customer demand for our services;
 
  hedge against fuel price, foreign exchange and interest rate fluctuations;
 
  maintain control of our expenses;
 
  attract, train, retain and motivate qualified personnel;
 
  react to customer and market demands and industry trends; and
 
  maintain the safety of our operations.
      We cannot assure you that we will successfully address any of these factors, and our failure to do so could adversely affect our financial condition and results of operations.
Our failure to successfully implement our growth strategy would harm the market value of the ADSs and our preferred shares.
      Our growth strategy involves expanding the number of markets we serve and increasing the frequency of flights to the markets we currently serve. Increasing the number of markets we serve and our flight frequencies depend on our ability to identify the appropriate geographic markets upon which to focus and to gain suitable airport access and route approval in these markets. There can be no assurance that the new markets we enter will provide passenger traffic that is sufficient to make our operations in those new markets profitable. Three of the airport facilities from which we operate, Santos Dumont in Rio de Janeiro, Congonhas in São Paulo, and Pampulha in Belo Horizonte, are highly congested and passenger processing is at or near maximum capacity. Five of the airports from which we operate, Juscelino Kubitschek in Brasília, Santos Dumont, Congonhas, Guarulhos International Airport in Guarulhos and Pampulha, are subject to slot restrictions limiting the number of landings and take-offs at these airports and when they can be made. Any condition that would prevent or delay our access to airports or routes that will be vital to our growth strategy, including the ability to process more passengers or the imposition of flight capacity restrictions or our inability to maintain our existing slots, and obtain additional slots, in the Juscelino Kubitschek, Santos Dumont, Congonhas, Guarulhos and Pampulha airports, could constrain the expansion of our operations. In addition, the introduction of flights between Brazil and other South American destinations outside of Brazil requires the availability of flight capacity under, and compliance with, the criteria set forth in bi-lateral treaties governing cross-border air travel that have been negotiated between Brazil and other South American countries. To the extent that there is no available capacity or we cannot comply with the criteria contained in these treaties, our plans to introduce additional flights between Brazil and other South American destinations outside of Brazil could be constrained.

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      The expansion of our business will also require additional skilled personnel, equipment and facilities. An inability to hire and retain skilled personnel or secure the required equipment and facilities efficiently and cost-effectively may adversely affect our ability to execute our growth strategy. Expansion of our markets and flight frequencies may also strain our existing management resources and operational, financial and management information systems to the point that they may no longer be adequate to support our operations, requiring us to make significant expenditures in these areas. In light of these factors, we cannot assure you that we will be able to successfully establish new markets or expand our existing markets and operations, and our failure to do so would harm our business and the value of the ADSs and our preferred shares.
We have significant fixed costs, and we will incur significantly more fixed costs that could hinder our ability to meet our strategic goals.
      We have significant fixed costs, relating primarily to operating leases for our aircraft and engines, of which approximately 16% have floating-rate rent payments based on LIBOR or U.S. interest rates. We have commitments of approximately US$2.0 billion to purchase 30 additional Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft over the next five years. We expect that we will incur additional fixed obligations and debt as we take delivery of the new aircraft and other equipment to implement our growth strategy.
      Having significant fixed payment obligations could:
  limit our ability to obtain additional financing to support expansion plans and for working capital and other purposes;
 
  divert substantial cash flow from our operations to service our fixed obligations under aircraft operating leases and aircraft purchase commitments;
 
  if LIBOR or U.S. interest rates increase, require us to incur significantly more lease or interest expense than we currently do; and
 
  limit our ability to plan for or react to changes in our business and the airline industry and to general economic conditions.
      Our ability to make scheduled payments on our fixed obligations, including indebtedness we will incur, will depend on our future operating performance and cash flow, which will in turn depend on prevailing economic and political conditions and financial, competitive, regulatory, business and other factors, many of which are beyond our control. In addition, our ability to raise our fares to compensate for an increase in our fixed costs may be adversely affected by any imposition of fare control mechanisms by the Brazilian civil aviation authorities.
We may have to use our cash resources to finance a portion of our firm order aircraft. We may not have sufficient cash resources available to do so.
      We currently finance our aircraft through operating leases. As a result of our firm orders to purchase 30 Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft, in the future we expect to own a portion of our fleet as well as continue to lease aircraft through long-term operating leases. The firm orders represent a significant financial commitment for us. While we expect that a preliminary commitment to us from the Export-Import Bank of the United States to provide guarantees covering approximately 85% of the aggregate purchase price for the firm order aircraft will assist us in obtaining low-cost financing for the purchase of the firm order aircraft, we may be required to use our own cash resources for the remaining 15% of the aggregate purchase price for the firm order aircraft. As of December 31, 2004, we had approximately R$849 million of cash, cash equivalents and short-term investments in overnight deposits and deposit certificates of highly-rated Brazilian banks and marketable securities, mainly highly-rated Brazilian government bonds. See Note 4 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. If the value or liquidity of these investments were to decrease, or we do not have sufficient cash resources, we may be required to modify our aircraft acquisition plans or to incur higher than anticipated financing costs, which would have an adverse impact on the execution of our growth strategy and business and could have an adverse impact on our results of operations.

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Substantial increases in fuel costs or the unavailability of sufficient quantities of fuel would harm our business.
      Fuel costs constitute a significant portion of our total operating expenses, accounting for approximately 33.2% of our operating expenses for the year ended December 31, 2004. Historically, international and local fuel prices have been subject to wide price fluctuations based on geopolitical issues and supply and demand. In recent years, there have been significant increases in fuel prices. Fuel availability is also subject to periods of market surplus and shortage and is affected by demand for both home heating oil and gasoline. In the event of an international or local fuel supply shortage, our fuel prices may increase.
      In addition, substantially all of our fuel is supplied by one source, Petrobras Distribuidora S.A. If Petrobras Distribuidora is unable or unwilling to continue to supply fuel to us at the times and in the quantities that we require, or if Petrobras Distribuidora were to raise significantly the price it charges us for its fuel, our business and results of operations would be adversely affected. Some of our competitors may be able to obtain fuel on better terms than us, both with respect to quantity and price. Although we enter into hedging arrangements to reduce our exposure to fuel price fluctuations and have historically passed on the majority of fuel price increases by adjusting our fare structure, the price and future availability of fuel cannot be predicted with any degree of certainty. Our hedging activities or the extent of our ability to adjust our fares may not be sufficient to protect us from fuel price increases.
Insurance costs for airlines have increased substantially, and further increases would harm our business.
      Due to the threat of terrorist attacks, insurance companies have in recent years dramatically increased airline insurance premiums and significantly reduced the maximum amount of insurance coverage available to airlines for liability to persons (other than passengers) for claims resulting from acts of terrorism, war or similar events to US$150 million per aircraft.
      Law No. 10,309 of November 22, 2001 authorized the Brazilian government to assume civil liability to third parties for any damages to persons and assets on the ground caused by terrorist attacks or acts of war against aircraft of Brazilian airlines in Brazil or abroad. This law was enacted in response to the substantial increases in insurance premiums attributable to concerns about potential terrorist attacks on aircraft operated by Brazilian airlines in Brazil and abroad after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States. Law No. 10,744 of October 9, 2003 confirmed coverage by the Brazilian government up to an overall limit of the reais equivalent of US$1 billion for an indeterminate period of time. However, Decree No. 5,035 of April 5, 2004, which regulates the provisions of Law No. 10,744, provides that the Brazilian government may, at its sole discretion, suspend this coverage at any time, effective within seven days after the announcement by the Brazilian government of its decision to do so.
      Airline insurers could reduce their coverage or increase their premiums even further in the event of additional terrorist attacks, hijackings, airline crashes, the end of the government-sponsored coverage or other events adversely affecting the airline industry abroad or in Brazil. Significant reductions in coverage or increases in insurance premiums would harm our financial condition and results of operations.
We have only a limited number of suppliers for our aircraft and engines.
      One of the key elements of our current business strategy is to save costs by operating a simplified aircraft fleet equipped with one type of engine. After extensive research and analysis, we chose the Boeing 737-700/800 Next Generation aircraft and CFM 56-7B engines from CFM International. In light of our firm orders to purchase 30 Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft and options to purchase an additional 33 Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft, we expect to continue to rely on Boeing and CFM International into the foreseeable future. If either Boeing or CFM International were unable to perform their contractual obligations, we would have to find another supplier for a similar type of aircraft or engines.
      If we had to lease or purchase aircraft from another supplier, we could lose the benefits we derive from our current fleet composition. We cannot assure you that any replacement aircraft would have the same operating advantages as the Boeing 737-700/800 Next Generation aircraft or that we could lease or purchase

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engines that would be as reliable and efficient as the CFM 56-7B. We may also incur substantial transition costs, including costs associated with retraining our employees, replacing our manuals and adapting our facilities, to the extent that such costs would not be covered by the alternate supplier. Our operations could also be disrupted by the failure or inability of Boeing or CFM International to provide sufficient parts or related support services on a timely basis.
      Our business would also be significantly harmed if a design defect or mechanical problem with the Boeing 737-700/800 Next Generation aircraft or the CFM 56-7B engine used on our aircraft were discovered causing our aircraft to be grounded while any such defect or problem is being corrected, assuming it could be corrected at all. The use of our aircraft could be suspended or restricted by the DAC in the event of any actual or perceived mechanical or design problems while the DAC conducts its own investigation. Our business would also be significantly harmed if the public avoids flying on our aircraft due to an adverse perception of the Boeing 737-700/800 Next Generation aircraft or the CFM 56-7B engine because of safety concerns or other problems, whether real or perceived, or in the event of an accident involving Boeing 737-700/800 Next Generation aircraft or the CFM 56-7B engine.
We may be unable to maintain our company culture as our business grows.
      We believe that our growth potential and the maintenance of our results-oriented corporate culture are directly linked to our capacity to attract and maintain the best professionals available in the Brazilian airline industry. We are dedicated to providing professional, high-quality service in a positive work environment and being innovative at finding ways to improve our business. We place great emphasis on the selection and training of enthusiastic employees with potential to add value to our business and who we believe fit in with and contribute to our company culture. As we grow, we may be unable to identify, hire or retain enough people who meet the above criteria, or we may have trouble maintaining this company culture as we become a larger business. Our company culture is crucial to our business plan, and failure to maintain that culture could adversely affect our business and results of operations.
      Our business also depends upon the efforts of our chief executive officer, who has played an important role in shaping our company culture and, through his interest in Aeropar Participações S.A., owns a significant number of our shares, as well as other key executives. In the event that our chief executive officer or a number of our key executives leave our company, we may have difficulty finding suitable replacements, which could harm our business and results of operations.
We rely on third parties to provide our customers and us with facilities and services that are integral to our business.
      We have entered into agreements with third-party contractors to provide certain facilities and services required for our operations, such as aircraft and engine maintenance, ground handling, baggage handling and call center services. All of these agreements are subject to termination on short notice. The loss or expiration of these agreements or our inability to renew these agreements or to negotiate new agreements with other providers at comparable rates could harm our business and results of operations. Further, our reliance on third parties to provide essential services on our behalf gives us less control over the costs, efficiency, timeliness and quality of those services.
We rely heavily on automated systems to operate our business, and any failure of these systems could harm our business.
      We depend on automated systems to operate our business, including our computerized airline ticket sales system, our telecommunication systems and our website. Unlike our competitors, which issue traditional paper tickets to some or all of their passengers, we issue only paperless tickets. Our website and ticket sales system must be able to accommodate a high volume of traffic and deliver important flight information. Substantial or repeated website, ticket sales system or telecommunication systems failures could reduce the attractiveness of our services and could cause our customers to purchase tickets from another airline. Any disruption in these systems could result in the loss of important data, increase our expenses and generally harm our business.

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We rely on maintaining a high daily aircraft utilization rate to increase our revenues. High aircraft utilization also makes us vulnerable to delays.
      One of the key elements of our business strategy is to maintain a high daily aircraft utilization rate. High daily aircraft utilization allows us to generate more revenue from our aircraft and dilute our fixed costs, and is achieved in part by operating with quick turnaround times at airports so we can fly more hours on average in a day. Our rate of aircraft utilization could be adversely affected by a number of different factors that are beyond our control, including, among others, air traffic and airport congestion, adverse weather conditions and delays by third-party service providers relating to matters such as fueling and ground handling.
      High aircraft utilization increases the risk that if an aircraft falls behind schedule during the day, it could remain behind schedule during the remainder of that day and potentially into the next day, which can result in disruption in operating performance, leading to passenger dissatisfaction related to delayed or cancelled flights and missed connections.
Our reputation and financial results could be harmed in the event of an accident or incident involving our aircraft or our aircraft type.
      An accident or incident involving one of our aircraft could involve significant claims by injured passengers and others, as well as significant costs related to the repair or replacement of a damaged aircraft and its temporary or permanent loss from service. We are required by the DAC and lessors of our aircraft under our operating lease agreements to carry liability insurance. Although we believe we currently maintain liability insurance in amounts and of the type generally consistent with industry practice, the amount of such coverage may not be adequate and we may be forced to bear substantial losses in the event of an accident. Substantial claims resulting from an accident in excess of our related insurance coverage would harm our business and financial results. Moreover, any aircraft accident or incident involving our aircraft, even if fully insured, or an accident or incident involving Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft, could cause a public perception that we are less safe or reliable than other airlines, which would harm our business and results of operations.
Our controlling shareholder has the ability to direct our business and affairs and its interests could conflict with yours.
      Our controlling shareholder has the power to, among other things (i) elect a majority of our directors and (ii) determine the outcome of any action requiring shareholder approval, including transactions with related parties, corporate reorganizations, dispositions, and the timing and payment of any future dividends, subject to minimum dividend payment requirements imposed under the Brazilian corporation law. Although you are entitled to tag-along rights in connection with a change of control of our company and you will have specific protections in connection with transactions between our controlling shareholder and related parties, our controlling shareholder may have an interest in pursuing acquisitions, dispositions, financings or similar transactions that could conflict with your interests as a holder of the ADSs or our preferred shares.
We have historically faced significant fluctuations in our results of operations, and the trading price of the ADSs and our preferred shares may be affected by such variations.
      Our results of operations have at times varied significantly from quarter to quarter, and we expect variations to continue in the future. Among the factors causing these variations are the seasonal nature of air travel and the airline industry’s sensitivity to general economic conditions. Generally, the revenues from and profitability of our flights reach their highest levels during the January and July summer and winter vacation periods and in the final two weeks of December during the Christmas holiday season. The week during which the annual Carnival celebrations take place in Brazil is generally accompanied by a notable decrease in load factors. In addition, because a substantial portion of both business and leisure airline travel is discretionary, the industry tends to experience adverse financial results during general economic downturns. Any prolonged general reduction in airline passenger traffic may adversely affect our business and results of operations.

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Risks Relating to the ADSs and Our Preferred Shares
The relative volatility and illiquidity of the Brazilian securities markets may substantially limit your ability to sell the preferred shares underlying the ADSs at the price and time you desire.
      Investing in securities that trade in emerging markets, such as Brazil, often involves greater risk than investing in securities of issuers in the United States, and such investments are generally considered to be more speculative in nature. The Brazilian securities market is substantially smaller, less liquid, more concentrated and can be more volatile than major securities markets in the United States. Accordingly, although you are entitled to withdraw the preferred shares underlying the ADSs from the depositary at any time, your ability to sell the preferred shares underlying the ADSs at a price and time at which you wish to do so may be substantially limited. There is also significantly greater concentration in the Brazilian securities market than in major securities markets in the United States. The ten largest companies in terms of market capitalization represented approximately 48% of the aggregate market capitalization of the BOVESPA as of December 31, 2004. The top ten stocks in terms of trading volume accounted for approximately 56%, 53% and 45% of all shares traded on the BOVESPA in 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively.
Holders of the ADSs and our preferred shares may not receive any dividends.
      According to our by-laws, we must generally pay our shareholders at least 25% of our annual net income as dividends, as determined and adjusted under Brazilian GAAP. This adjusted income may be capitalized, used to absorb losses or otherwise appropriated as allowed under the Brazilian corporation law and may not be available to be paid as dividends. We may not pay dividends to our shareholders in any particular fiscal year if our board of directors determines that such distributions would be inadvisable in view of our financial condition.
If you surrender your ADSs and withdraw preferred shares, you risk losing the ability to remit foreign currency abroad and certain Brazilian tax advantages.
      As an ADS holder, you benefit from the electronic certificate of foreign capital registration obtained by the custodian for our preferred shares underlying the ADSs in Brazil, which permits the custodian to convert dividends and other distributions with respect to the preferred shares into non-Brazilian currency and remit the proceeds abroad. If you surrender your ADSs and withdraw preferred shares, you will be entitled to continue to rely on the custodian’s electronic certificate of foreign capital registration for only five business days from the date of withdrawal. Thereafter, upon the disposition of or distributions relating to the preferred shares, you will not be able to remit abroad non-Brazilian currency unless you obtain your own electronic certificate of foreign capital registration or you qualify under Brazilian foreign investment regulations that entitle some foreign investors to buy and sell shares on Brazilian stock exchanges without obtaining separate electronic certificates of foreign capital registration. If you do not qualify under the foreign investment regulations you will generally be subject to less favorable tax treatment of dividends and distributions on, and the proceeds from any sale of, our preferred shares.
      If you attempt to obtain your own electronic certificate of foreign capital registration, you may incur expenses or suffer delays in the application process, which could delay your ability to receive dividends or distributions relating to our preferred shares or the return of your capital in a timely manner. The depositary’s electronic certificate of foreign capital registration may also be adversely affected by future legislative changes.
Changes in Brazilian tax laws may have an adverse impact on the taxes applicable to a disposition of the ADSs or our preferred shares.
      According to Law No. 10,833, enacted on December 29, 2003, the disposition of assets located in Brazil by a non-resident to either a Brazilian resident or a non-resident is subject to taxation in Brazil, regardless of whether the disposition occurs outside or within Brazil. In the event that the disposition of assets is interpreted to include a disposition of the ADSs or our preferred shares, this tax law could result in the imposition of withholding taxes on a disposition of the ADSs or our preferred shares by a non-resident of Brazil to another non-resident of Brazil. Due to the fact that no judicial guidance as to the application of Law No. 10,833 yet

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exists, we are unable to predict whether an interpretation applying such tax laws to dispositions of the ADSs or our preferred shares between non-residents could ultimately prevail in the courts of Brazil.
Substantial sales of the ADSs or our preferred shares after this offering could cause the price of the ADSs or our preferred shares to decrease.
      We, our directors and executive officers, Aeropar Participações S.A., Comporte Participações S.A. and BSSF Air Holdings LLC have agreed that, subject to certain exceptions, we and they will not issue or transfer, until 90 days after the date of this prospectus any ADSs or our preferred shares or any options or warrants to purchase the ADSs or our preferred shares, or any securities convertible into, or exchangeable for, or that represent the right to receive, ADSs or our preferred shares. After these lock-up agreements expire or if they are waived, their ADSs and preferred shares will be eligible for sale in the public market. The market price of the ADSs and our preferred shares could drop significantly if the holders of the ADSs or our preferred shares sell them or the market perceives that they intend to sell them.
Holders of ADSs may be unable to exercise preemptive rights with respect to our preferred shares.
      We may not be able to offer our preferred shares to U.S. holders of ADSs pursuant to preemptive rights granted to holders of our preferred shares in connection with any future issuance of our preferred shares unless a registration statement under the Securities Act is effective with respect to such preferred shares and preemptive rights, or an exemption from the registration requirements of the Securities Act is available. We are not obligated to file a registration statement relating to preemptive rights with respect to our preferred shares, and we cannot assure you that we will file any such registration statement. If such a registration statement is not filed and an exemption from registration does not exist, The Bank of New York, as depositary, will attempt to sell the preemptive rights, and you will be entitled to receive the proceeds of such sale. However, these preemptive rights will expire if the depositary does not sell them, and U.S. holders of ADSs will not realize any value from the granting of such preemptive rights.

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USE OF PROCEEDS
      We will receive net proceeds of approximately US$73.3 million from the sale of our preferred shares and the ADSs in this global offering (based on the ADS price of US$27.88), and net proceeds of approximately US$102.8 million if the underwriters exercise their over-allotment option in full, in each case after deducting estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and offering expenses payable by us. We intend to use the net proceeds from this offering for the purchase and lease of additional Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft. Pending the application of the net proceeds we receive from this offering, we will invest these funds in overnight deposits and deposit certificates with highly-rated Brazilian banks and temporary investments, mainly highly-rated Brazilian government bonds. We will not receive any proceeds from the sale of preferred shares (including preferred shares in the form of ADSs) by the selling shareholder.

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EXCHANGE RATES
      Prior to March 4, 2005, there were two principal legal foreign exchange markets in Brazil:
  the commercial rate exchange market; and
 
  the floating rate exchange market.
      Most trade and financial foreign-exchange transactions were carried out on the commercial rate exchange market. These transactions included the purchase or sale of shares or payment of dividends or interest with respect to shares. Foreign currencies could only be purchased in the commercial exchange market through a Brazilian bank authorized to operate in these markets. In both markets, rates were freely negotiated.
      Resolution No. 3.265 by the National Monetary Council, dated March 4, 2005, consolidated the foreign exchange markets into one single foreign exchange market, effective as of March 14, 2005. All foreign exchange transactions are now carried out through institutions authorized to operate in the consolidated market and are subject to registration with the Central Bank’s electronic registration system. Foreign exchange rates continue to be freely negotiated, but may be influenced by Central Bank intervention.
      Since 1999, the Central Bank has allowed the real/ U.S. dollar exchange rate to float freely, and during that period, the real/ U.S. dollar exchange rate has fluctuated considerably. In the past, the Central Bank has intervened occasionally to control unstable movements in foreign exchange rates. We cannot predict whether the Central Bank or the Brazilian government will continue to let the real float freely or will intervene in the exchange rate market through a currency band system or otherwise. The real may depreciate or appreciate against the U.S. dollar substantially in the future. For more information on these risks, see “Risk Factors— Risks Relating to Brazil.”
      The following tables set forth the commercial selling rate, expressed in reais per U.S. dollar (R$/US$), for the periods indicated.
                                 
        Average for        
    Period-end   Period   Low   High
                 
    (reais per U.S. dollar)
Year Ended
                               
December 31, 2000
    1.955       1.835 (1)     1.723       1.985  
December 31, 2001
    2.320       2.353 (1)     1.936       2.801  
December 31, 2002
    3.533       2.998 (1)     2.271       3.955  
December 31, 2003
    2.889       3.060 (1)     2.822       3.662  
December 31, 2004
    2.654       2.917 (1)     2.654       3.205  
Month Ended
                               
October 2004
    2.857       2.854 (2)     2.824       2.885  
November 2004
    2.731       2.795 (2)     2.731       2.859  
December 2004
    2.654       2.721 (2)     2.654       2.787  
January 2005
    2.625       2.674 (2)     2.625       2.722  
February 2005
    2.595       2.597 (2)     2.574       2.632  
March 2005
    2.666       2.682 (2)     2.601       2.762  
April 2005 (through April 27)
    2.520       2.590 (2)     2.520       2.660  
 
Source: Central Bank
(1)  Represents the average of the exchange rates on the last day of each month during the period.
(2)  Average of the lowest and highest rates in the month.

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MARKET INFORMATION
Market Price of Our Shares
      In the United States, our preferred shares trade in the form of ADSs each representing two preferred shares, issued by The Bank of New York, as Depositary pursuant to a Deposit Agreement. The ADSs commenced trading on the NYSE on June 24, 2004. As of February 28, 2005, the ADSs represented approximately 39% of our preferred shares and 93% of our current global public float. The following table sets forth the reported high and low closing sales prices for the ADSs on the NYSE for the periods indicated.
                         
    US$ per ADS
     
    Low   High   Average(1)
             
2004
                       
Annual
    16.40       32.90       20.88  
First quarter
                 
Second quarter
    17.00       18.22       17.44  
Third Quarter
    16.40       21.21       18.19  
Fourth Quarter
    19.35       32.90       23.89  
Last Six Months
                       
October 2004
    19.35       20.67       19.79  
November 2004
    20.68       24.75       22.49  
December 2004
    25.34       32.90       29.16  
January 2005
    26.60       31.65       28.46  
February 2005
    28.50       33.01       30.93  
March 2005
    25.13       31.40       28.51  
April 2005 (through April 27)
    24.40       29.30       26.73  
 
Source: Bloomberg
(1)  Calculated as average of closing prices for the period.
     Our preferred shares began trading on the São Paulo Stock Exchange on June 24, 2004. The following table sets forth the reported high and low closing sale prices for our preferred shares on the BOVESPA, for the periods indicated.
                         
    Reais per Preferred Share
     
    Low   High   Average(1)
             
2004
                       
Annual
    25.00       44.31       29.72  
First quarter
                 
Second quarter
    26.50       28.00       27.13  
Third Quarter
    25.00       30.35       26.87  
Fourth Quarter
    27.50       44.31       32.92  
Last Six Months
                       
October 2004
    27.50       29.60       28.07  
November 2004
    29.40       33.50       31.29  
December 2004
    33.50       44.31       39.09  
January 2005
    36.00       42.50       38.53  
February 2005
    36.76       42.70       39.85  
March 2005
    34.20       41.30       38.39  
April 2005 (through April 27)
    32.24       37.39       34.63  
 
Source: Bloomberg
(1)  Calculated as average of closing prices for the period.

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Trading on the BOVESPA
      In 2000, the BOVESPA was reorganized through the execution of memoranda of understanding by the Brazilian stock exchanges. Under the memoranda, all securities are now traded only on the BOVESPA, with the exception of electronically traded public debt securities and privatization auctions, which are traded on the Rio de Janeiro Stock Exchange.
      When shareholders trade in common and preferred shares on the BOVESPA, the trade is settled in three business days after the trade date without adjustment of the purchase price for inflation. The seller is ordinarily required to deliver the shares to the exchange on the second business day following the trade date. Delivery of and payment for shares are made through the facilities of the clearinghouse, Companhia Brasileira de Liquidação e Custódia, or CBLC.
      The BOVESPA is a nonprofit entity owned by its member brokerage firms. Trading on the BOVESPA is limited to member brokerage firms and a limited number of authorized nonmembers. The BOVESPA has two open outcry trading sessions each day from 11:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. and from 2:30 p.m. to 5:45 p.m., São Paulo time, except during daylight savings time in the United States. During daylight savings time in the United States, the sessions are from 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. and from 2:00 p.m. to 4:45 p.m., São Paulo time, to closely mirror the NYSE trading hours. Trading is also conducted between 11:00 a.m. and 6:00 p.m., or between 10:00 a.m. and 5:00 p.m. during daylight savings time in the United States, on an automated system known as the Computer Assisted Trading System (Sistema de Negociação Assistida por Computador) on the BOVESPA and on the National Electronic Trading System (Sistema Eletrônico de Negociação Nacional). This system is a computerized system that links electronically with the seven smaller regional exchanges. The BOVESPA also permits trading from 6:45 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. on an online system connected to traditional and internet brokers called the “after market.” Trading on the after market is subject to regulatory limits on price volatility and on the volume of shares transacted through internet brokers. There are no specialists or officially recognized market makers for our shares in Brazil.
      In order to better control volatility, the BOVESPA adopted a “circuit breaker” system pursuant to which trading sessions may be suspended for a period of 30 minutes or one hour whenever the indices of the BOVESPA falls below the limits of 10% or 15%, respectively, in relation to the index registered in the previous trading session.
      The BOVESPA is significantly less liquid than the NYSE or other major exchanges in the world. As of December 31, 2004, the aggregate market capitalization of the 373 companies listed on the BOVESPA was equivalent to approximately R$904.9 billion (US$340.9 billion), and the 10 largest companies listed on the BOVESPA represented approximately 48.1% of the total market capitalization of all listed companies. By comparison, as of December 31, 2004, the aggregate market capitalization of the 2,768 companies listed on the NYSE was approximately US$12.8 trillion, and the 10 largest companies listed on the NYSE represented approximately 19.5% of the total market capitalization of all listed companies. Although any of the outstanding shares of a listed company may trade on the BOVESPA, in most cases fewer than half of the listed shares are actually available for trading by the public, the remainder being held by small groups of controlling persons, by government entities or by one principal shareholder. See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to the ADSs and Our Preferred Shares—The relative volatility and illiquidity of the Brazilian securities markets may substantially limit your ability to sell the preferred shares underlying the ADSs at the time and price you desire.”
      Trading on the BOVESPA by a holder not deemed to be domiciled in Brazil for Brazilian tax and regulatory purposes, a non-Brazilian holder, is subject to certain limitations under Brazilian foreign investment legislation. With limited exceptions, non-Brazilian holders may only trade on Brazilian stock exchanges in accordance with the requirements of Resolution No. 2,689, of January 26, 2000, of the National Monetary Council (Conselho Monetário Nacional, or CMN), or Resolution No. 2,689. Resolution No. 2,689 requires that securities held by non-Brazilian holders be maintained in the custody of, or in deposit accounts with, financial institutions and be registered with a clearinghouse. Such financial institutions and clearinghouses must be duly authorized to act as such by the Central Bank and the CVM. In addition, Resolution No. 2,689 requires non-Brazilian holders to restrict their securities trading to transactions on Brazilian stock exchanges

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or qualified over-the-counter markets. With limited exceptions, non-Brazilian holders may not transfer the ownership of investments made under Resolution No. 2,689 to other non-Brazilian holders through a private transaction. See “Taxation—Brazilian Tax Considerations—Taxation on Gains” for a description of certain tax benefits extended to non-Brazilian holders who qualify under Resolution No. 2,689.
Corporate Governance Practices
      In 2000, the BOVESPA introduced three special listing segments, known as Level 1 and 2 of Differentiated Corporate Governance Practices and New Market (Novo Mercado), aiming at fostering a secondary market for securities issued by Brazilian companies with securities listed on the BOVESPA, by prompting such companies to follow good practices of corporate governance. The listing segments were designed for the trading of shares issued by companies voluntarily undertaking to abide by corporate governance practices and disclosure requirements in addition to those already imposed by Brazilian law. These rules generally increase shareholders’ rights and enhance the quality of information provided to shareholders.
      To become a Level 1 (Nível 1) company, in addition to the obligations imposed by current Brazilian law, an issuer must agree to (a) ensure that shares of the issuer representing 25% of its total capital are effectively available for trading, (b) adopt offering procedures that favor widespread ownership of shares whenever making a public offering, (c) comply with minimum quarterly disclosure standards, (d) follow stricter disclosure policies with respect to transactions made by controlling shareholders, directors and officers involving securities issued by the issuer; (e) submit any existing shareholders’ agreements and stock option plans to the BOVESPA; and (f) make a schedule of corporate events available to shareholders.
      To become a Level 2 (Nível 2) company, in addition to the obligations imposed by current Brazilian law, an issuer must agree to (a) comply with all of the listing requirements for Level 1 companies, (b) grant tag-along rights for all shareholders in connection with a transfer of control of the company, offering the same price paid per share for controlling block common shares and 70% of the price paid per share of controlling block preferred shares, (c) grant voting rights to holders of preferred shares in connection with certain corporate restructurings and related party transactions, such as (i) any transformation of the company into another corporate form, (ii) any merger, consolidation or spin-off of the company, (iii) approval of any transactions between the company and its controlling shareholder, including parties related to the controlling shareholder, (iv) approval of any valuation of assets to be delivered to the company in payment for shares issued in a capital increase, (v) appointment of an expert firm to ascertain the fair value of the company in connection with any deregistration and delisting tender offer, and (vi) any changes to these voting rights, (d) have a board of directors comprised of at least five members with a term limited to one year, (e) prepare annual financial statements in English, including cash flow statements, in accordance with international accounting standards, such as U.S. GAAP or International Financial Reporting Standards, (f) if it elects to delist from the Level 2 segment, hold a tender offer by the company’s controlling shareholder (the minimum price of the shares to be offered will be determined by an appraisal process), and (g) adhere exclusively to the rules of the BOVESPA Arbitration Chamber for resolution of disputes between the company and its investors.
      To be listed in the Novo Mercado, an issuer must meet all of the requirements described above, in addition to (a) issuing only voting shares and (b) granting tag-along rights for all shareholders in connection with a transfer of control of the company, offering the same price paid per share for controlling block common shares.
      In May 2004, we entered into an agreement with the BOVESPA to comply with the requirements to become a Level 2 company. Since the completion of our initial public offering in June 2004, we have maintained a free float of at least 10% of our preferred shares, and we have a three-year period within which to comply with the requirement to increase this free float to 25%. In addition to complying with Level 2 requirements, we have also granted tag-along rights to holders of our preferred shares in connection with a transfer of control of our company, offering preferred shareholders 100% of the price paid per common share of controlling block shareholders, our controlling shareholders will agree to a 90-day lock-up period in connection with this offering, and we prepare quarterly financial statements in accordance with U.S. GAAP.

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Regulation of the Brazilian Securities Market
      The Brazilian securities markets are regulated by the CVM, which has regulatory authority over the stock exchanges and securities markets, as well as by the Central Bank, which has, among other powers, licensing authority over brokerage firms and regulates foreign investment and foreign exchange transactions. The Brazilian securities markets are governed by Law No. 10,198 dated February 14, 2001, Law No. 10,303 dated October 31, 2001, known as Law No. 10,303, and Law No. 10,411 dated February 26, 2002, which introduced new concepts and several changes to Law No. 6,385 dated December 7, 1976, as amended and supplemented, the principal law governing the Brazilian securities markets, by Brazilian corporation law, and by regulations issued by the CVM, the CMN and the Central Bank. These laws and regulations, among others, provide for disclosure requirements applicable to issuers of traded securities, criminal sanctions for insider trading and price manipulation, and protection of minority shareholders. They also provide for licensing and oversight of brokerage firms and governance of Brazilian stock exchanges. However, the Brazilian securities markets are not as highly regulated and supervised as U.S. securities markets.
      Under the Brazilian corporation law, a company is either publicly held, a companhia aberta, or privately held, a companhia fechada. All listed companies are registered with the CVM and are subject to reporting and regulatory requirements. A company registered with the CVM may trade its securities either on the BOVESPA or in the Brazilian over-the-counter market. Shares of companies listed on the BOVESPA may not simultaneously trade on the Brazilian over-the-counter market. The shares of a listed company may also be traded privately, subject to several limitations. To be listed on the BOVESPA, a company must apply for registration with the BOVESPA and the CVM.
      The trading of securities on the BOVESPA may be halted at the request of a company in anticipation of a material announcement. Trading may also be suspended on the initiative of the BOVESPA or the CVM, among other reasons, based on or due to a belief that a company has provided inadequate information regarding a significant event or has provided inadequate responses to inquiries by the CVM or the BOVESPA.
      Trading on the BOVESPA by non-residents of Brazil is subject to limitations under Brazilian foreign investment and tax legislation. The Brazilian custodian for the preferred shares underlying the ADSs must, on behalf of the depositary for the ADSs, obtain registration from the Central Bank to remit U.S. dollars abroad for payments of dividends, any other cash distributions, or upon the disposition of the shares and sales proceeds therefrom. If you exchange your ADSs for preferred shares, you will be entitled to continue to rely on the custodian’s electronic certificate of foreign capital registration for five business days after the exchange. Thereafter, you may not be able to obtain and remit abroad non-Brazilian currency upon the disposition of or distributions relating to the preferred shares, and will be subject to a less favorable tax treatment on gains with respect to the preferred shares, unless you obtain a new electronic certificate of foreign capital registration or qualify under Brazilian foreign investment regulations that entitle some foreign investors to buy and sell shares on the BOVESPA without obtaining separate electronic certificates of foreign capital registration. See “Description of Capital Stock—Regulation of Foreign Investment.”
Disclosure Requirements
      Pursuant to CVM Rule No. 358, of January 3, 2002, the CVM revised and consolidated the requirements regarding the disclosure and use of information related to material facts and acts of publicly held companies, including the disclosure of information in the trading and acquisition of securities issued by publicly held companies.
      Such requirements include provisions that:
  establish the concept of a material fact that gives rise to reporting requirements. Material facts include decisions made by the controlling shareholders, resolutions of the general meeting of shareholders and of management of the company, or any other facts related to the company’s business (whether occurring within the company or otherwise somehow related thereto) that may influence the price of its publicly traded securities, or the decision of investors to trade such securities or to exercise any of such securities’ underlying rights;

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  specify examples of facts that are considered to be material, which include, among others, the execution of shareholders’ agreements providing for the transfer of control, the entry or withdrawal of shareholders that maintain any managing, financial, technological or administrative function with or contribution to the company, and any corporate restructuring undertaken among related companies;
 
  oblige the officer of investor relations, controlling shareholders, other officers, directors, members of the audit committee and other advisory boards to disclose material facts;
 
  require simultaneous disclosure of material facts to all markets in which the corporation’s securities are admitted for trading;
 
  require the acquiror of a controlling stake in a corporation to publish material facts, including its intentions as to whether or not to de-list the corporation’s shares, within one year;
 
  establish rules regarding disclosure requirements in the acquisition and disposal of a material stockholding stake; and
 
  restrict the use of insider information.
Changes in the Brazilian Corporation Law
      On October 31, 2001, Law No. 10,303, amending the Brazilian corporation law, was enacted. The main goal of Law No. 10,303 is to broaden the rights of minority shareholders. Law No. 10,303:
  obligates our controlling shareholders to make a tender offer for our shares if it increases its interest in our share capital to a level that materially and negatively affects the liquidity of our shares, as defined by the CVM;
 
  requires any acquiror of control to make a tender offer for our common shares at a price equal to 80% of the per share price paid for the controlling block of shares;
 
  authorizes us to redeem minority shareholders’ shares if, after a tender offer, our controlling shareholders increase their participation in our total share capital to more than 95%;
 
  entitles dissenting or, in certain cases, non-voting shareholders to obtain redemption upon a decision to conduct a spin-off that results in (a) a change of our corporate purpose, (b) a reduction in the mandatory dividend or (c) any participation in a group of companies (as defined by the Brazilian corporation law);
 
  requires that the preferred shares have one of the following advantages in order to be listed and to trade on a stock exchange: (a) priority in receipt of dividends corresponding to at least 3% of the book value per share (after this priority condition is met, equal conditions apply to common shares); (b) dividends 10% higher than those paid for common shares; or (c) a tag-along right at 80% of the price paid to the controlling shareholder in case of a transfer control. No withdrawal rights arise from such amendments made before December 31, 2002;
 
  entitles shareholders that are not controlling shareholders but that together hold (a) preferred shares representing at least 10% of our total share capital or (b) common shares representing at least 15% of our voting capital the right to appoint one member and an alternate to our board of directors. If no group of common or preferred shareholders meets the thresholds described above, shareholders holding preferred or common shares representing at least 10% of our total share capital are entitled to combine their holdings to appoint one member and an alternate to our board of directors. Until 2005, the board members that may be elected pursuant to (a) above or by the combined holdings of holders of preferred and common shares are to be chosen from a list of three names drawn up by the controlling shareholder. Any such members elected by the minority shareholders will have veto powers on the selection of our independent auditors;
 
  requires controlling shareholders, shareholders that appoint members of our board of directors or fiscal council and members of our board of directors, board of executive officers or fiscal council to file

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  immediately with the CVM and the stock exchanges (or the over-the-counter markets on which our securities are traded) a statement of any change in their shareholdings; and
 
  requires us to send copies of the documentation we submit to our shareholders in connection with shareholders meetings to the stock exchanges on which our shares are most actively traded.

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CAPITALIZATION
      The following table sets forth our capitalization as of December 31, 2004 on an actual basis and as adjusted to reflect the receipt of approximately US$73.3 million in estimated net proceeds from the issuance and sale of the preferred shares and ADSs in this global offering. The as adjusted amounts are based on the ADS price of US$27.88. The number of our common shares and preferred shares excludes 1,024,830 preferred shares underlying stock options. You should read this table in conjunction with “Selected Financial Information and Operating Data,” “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” and our consolidated financial statements and the related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus.
                                   
    As of December 31, 2004
     
    Actual   As Adjusted   Actual   As Adjusted
                 
    (in thousands of R$)   (in thousands of US$)
Total short-term debt and current portion of long-term debt
  R$ 118,349     R$ 118,349     US$ 44,586     US$ 44,586  
Long-term debt
                       
Shareholders’ equity:
                               
 
Preferred shares, no par value, 78,094,746 issued and outstanding, actual; 83,615,557 shares issued and outstanding, as adjusted
    564,634       759,276       212,716       286,044  
 
Common shares, no par value, 109,448,497 issued and outstanding
    41,500       41,500       15,634       15,634  
 
Additional paid in capital
    49,305       49,305       18,575       18,575  
 
Deferred compensation expenses
    (10,059 )     (10,059 )     (3,790 )     (3,790 )
 
Appropriated retained earnings
    18,352       18,352       6,914       6,914  
 
Unappropriated retained earnings
    484,721       484,721       182,611       182,611  
Total shareholders’ equity
    1,148,453       1,343,095       432,660       505,988  
                         
Total capitalization
  R$ 1,266,802     R$ 1,461,444     US$ 477,246     US$ 550,574  
                         

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DILUTION
      At December 31, 2004, we had a net tangible book value of R$6.12 per equity share (which refers to our common shares and preferred shares), or US$4.62 per ADS. Net tangible book value represents the amount of our total tangible assets less total liabilities, divided by the total number of equity shares outstanding at December 31, 2004. After giving effect to the sale of the 5,520,811 preferred shares offered by us in the global offering, and, assuming the international underwriters’ over-allotment option is not exercised, after deducting the estimated underwriting discounts and commissions and estimated offering expenses payable by us, our net tangible book value estimated at December 31, 2004 would have been approximately R$1,343.1 million, representing R$6.96 per equity share, or US$5.24 per ADS. At the offering price of US$27.88 per ADS, this represents an immediate increase in net tangible book value of R$0.83 per equity share, or US$0.62 per ADS, to existing shareholders and an immediate dilution in net tangible book value of US$22.64 per ADS, or 332.1%, to new investors purchasing ADSs in this offering. Dilution for this purpose represents the difference between the price per preferred share or ADS paid by these purchasers and net tangible book value per share or ADS immediately after the completion of the offerings.
      The following table illustrates this dilution of US$22.64 per ADS to new investors purchasing the ADSs in this global offering:
           
Offering price per ADS
  US$ 27.88  
 
Net tangible book value per ADS at December 31, 2004
    4.62  
 
Increase in net tangible book value per ADS attributable to new investors
    0.62  
       
Pro forma net tangible book value per ADS after this offering
    5.24  
       
Dilution per ADS to new investors
  US$ 22.64  
       
      The number of our common shares and preferred shares excludes 1,024,830 preferred shares underlying stock options. If none of our current minority shareholders subscribes for the ADSs or our preferred shares in this offering, our current minority shareholders’ aggregate ownership interest in our total outstanding shares will decrease from 17.62% to 17.12%. If all of our outstanding stock options are exercised and none of our current minority shareholders subscribes for the ADSs or our preferred shares in this offering, our current minority shareholders’ aggregate ownership interest in our total outstanding shares will decrease from 17.12% to 17.03%. Upon the consummation of this offering and assuming the exercise of all outstanding options to purchase our preferred shares, our free float will be 25.3% of our total shares outstanding.

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SELECTED FINANCIAL AND OPERATING DATA
      The following table presents summary historical consolidated financial and operating data for us for each of the periods indicated. You should read this information in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes, and the information under “Selected Financial and Operating Data” and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this prospectus.
      The Registrant is a holding company that was incorporated on March 12, 2004 and the shares of Gol, an offshore finance subsidiary, cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments are currently the Registrant’s only material assets.
      Gol was incorporated in August 2000 but did not begin transporting passengers until January 2001. During the period between August 2000 and December 31, 2000, our activities consisted solely of organizational activities relating to the commencement of our operations and we did not have any significant income or expenses. The consolidated financial statements and related notes included elsewhere in this prospectus have been prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP and reflect our financial condition and results of operations as if the Registrant had been incorporated and held all of the capital stock of Gol since January 1, 2001, except for five common shares and three Class B preferred shares of Gol held by members of Gol’s board of directors for eligibility purposes. On June 29, 2004, the Registrant completed its initial public offering through the issuance of 18,750,000 preferred shares. See “Description of Capital Stock.”
      You should read the following selected consolidated financial and operating data in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and related notes and “Management’s Discussion and Analysis of Financial Condition and Results of Operations” included elsewhere in this prospectus.
      Solely for the convenience of the reader, real amounts as of and for the year ended December 31, 2004 have been translated into U.S. dollars at the commercial market rate as reported by the Central Bank on December 31, 2004 of R$2.6544 to US$1.00.
                                             
    Year Ended December 31,
     
    2001   2002   2003   2004   2004
                     
    (in thousands)
Net operating revenues:
                                       
 
Passenger
  R$ 223,384     R$ 643,549     R$ 1,339,191     R$ 1,875,475     US$ 706,553  
 
Cargo and other
    7,089       34,330       61,399       85,411       32,177  
                               
   
Total net operating revenues
    230,473       677,879       1,400,590       1,960,886       738,730  
Operating expenses:
                                       
 
Salaries, wages and benefits
    33,263       77,855       137,638       183,037       68,956  
 
Aircraft fuel
    45,769       160,537       308,244       459,192       172,993  
 
Aircraft rent
    58,816       130,755       188,841       195,504       73,653  
 
Aircraft insurance
    7,556       23,186       25,850       25,575       9,635  
 
Sales and marketing
    35,299       96,626       191,280       261,756       98,612  
 
Landing fees
    14,602       32,758       47,924       57,393       21,622  
 
Aircraft and traffic servicing
    18,563       47,381       58,710       74,825       28,189  
 
Maintenance, materials and repairs
    4,773       16,160       42,039       51,796       19,513  
 
Depreciation
    2,383       7,885       13,844       21,242       8,003  
 
Other operating expenses
    7,741       22,654       44,494       54,265       20,443  
                               
   
Total operating expenses
    228,765       615,797       1,058,864       1,384,585       521,619  

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    Year Ended December 31,
     
    2001   2002   2003   2004   2004
                     
    (in thousands)
Operating income
    1,708       62,082       341,726       576,301       217,111  
Other expenses:
                                       
 
Interest expense
    (3,350 )     (16,530 )     (20,910 )     (13,445 )     (5,065 )
 
Financial income (expense), net
    (1,997 )     7,447       (56,681 )     24,424       9,201  
Income (loss) before income taxes
    (3,639 )     52,999       264,135       587,280       221,247  
 
Income taxes current
          (1,396 )     (60,747 )     (165,710 )     (62,428 )
 
Income taxes deferred
          (16,246 )     (27,929 )     (36,860 )     (13,886 )
                               
Net income (loss)
  R$ (3,639 )   R$ 35,357     R$ 175,459     R$ 384,710     US$ 144,933  
                               
Earnings (loss) per share, basic(1)
  R$ (0.06 )   R$ 0.36     R$ 1.07     R$ 2.14     US$ 0.81  
Earnings (loss) per share, diluted(1)
                      2.13       0.80  
Weighted average shares used in computing earnings per share, basic (in thousands)(1)
    56,000       98,268       164,410       179,731          
Weighted average shares used in computing earnings per share, diluted (in thousands)(1)
                      180,557          
Earnings per ADS, basic
        R$ 0.72     R$ 2.14     R$ 4.28     US$ 1.61  
Earnings per ADS, diluted
                      4.26       1.60  
                                         
    As of December 31,
     
    2001   2002   2003   2004   2004
                     
    (in thousands)
Balance Sheet Data:
                                       
Cash and cash equivalents
  R$ 5,156     R$ 9,452     R$ 146,291     R$ 405,730     US$ 152,852  
Short-term investments
                      443,361       167,029  
Accounts receivable(2)
    51,685       105,245       240,576       386,370       145,558  
Deposits for aircraft leases and aircraft and engine maintenance contracts
    27,130       121,980       180,916       289,416       109,032  
Total assets
    125,107       318,342       685,019       1,734,284       653,361  
Short term debt
    37,045       22,800       38,906       118,349       44,586  
Long term debt
                             
Shareholders’ equity
    19,728       71,583       314,739       1,148,453       432,660  

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    Year Ended December 31,
     
    2001   2002   2003   2004   2004
                     
    (in thousands, except percentages)
Other Financial Data:
                                       
Operating margin(3)
    0.7 %     9.2 %     24.4 %     29.4 %     29.4 %
Net cash provided by (used in) operating activities
  R$ (19,213 )   R$ 17,023     R$ 85,235     R$ 274,093     US$ 103,261  
Net cash used in investing activities
    (29,666 )     (34,479 )     (39,263 )     (533,042 )     (200,815 )
Net cash provided by financing activities
    53,239       21,752       90,867       518,388       195,293  
EBITDA(4)
    4,091       69,967       355,570       597,543       225,114  
Aircraft rent(4)
    58,816       130,755       188,841       195,504       73,653  
                                 
    Year Ended December 31,
     
    2001   2002   2003   2004
                 
Operating Data (unaudited):
                               
Revenue passengers (in thousands)
    2,085       4,847       7,324       9,215  
Revenue passenger kilometers (in millions)
    1,256       3,156       4,835       6,289  
Available seat kilometers (in millions)
    2,091       5,049       7,527       8,844  
Load factor
    60.1 %     62.5 %     64.2 %     71.1 %
Breakeven load factor
    61.5 %     59.8 %     50.8 %     52.5 %
Aircraft utilization (block hours per day)
    11.1       12.3       12.8       13.6  
Average fare
  R$ 115     R$ 140     R$ 195     R$ 210  
Yield per passenger kilometer (cents)
    17.8       20.4       27.7       29.8  
Passenger revenue per available seat kilometer (cents)
    10.7       12.7       17.8       21.2  
Operating revenue per available seat kilometer (cents)
    11.0       13.4       18.6       22.2  
Operating expense per available seat kilometer (cents)
    10.9       12.2       14.1       15.7  
Operating expense less fuel expense per available seat kilometer (cents)
    8.8       9.0       9.9       10.5  
Departures
    24,727       52,665       75,439       87,708  
Departures per day
    68       144       207       240  
Destinations served
    16       22       25       36  
Average stage length (kilometers)
    613       628       659       689  
Average number of operating aircraft during period
    7.7       15.3       21.6       22.3  
Full-time equivalent employees at period end
    1,134       2,072       2,453       3,307  
Fuel liters consumed (in thousands)
    77,850       164,008       264,402       317,444  
Percentage of sales through website during period
    13.2 %     48.7 %     57.9 %     76.4 %
Percentage of sales through website and call center during period
    81.6 %     72.1 %     74.1 %     83.6 %
 
(1)  Our preferred shares are not entitled to any fixed dividend preferences, but are instead entitled to receive dividends per share in the same amount of dividends per share paid to holders of our common shares. However, our preferred shares are entitled to receive distributions prior to holders of the common shares. Consequently, our earnings (loss) per share are computed by dividing income by the weighted average number of all classes of shares outstanding during the year. Preferred shares are excluded during any loss period. We have no dilutive securities.
(2)  In managing our liquidity, we take into account our cash and cash equivalents, our short-term investments and our accounts receivable balances. Accounts receivable consist primarily of credit card receivables for purchased passenger tickets. As we provide our customers with the option to pay in installments over a period not exceeding 12 months, we currently have an approximate one-month lag between the time that we pay our suppliers and the time that we receive payment for our services.

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(3)  Operating margin represents operating income divided by net operating revenues.
(4)  EBITDA represents net income (loss) plus the sum of other income (expense), income taxes and depreciation. EBITDA is presented as supplemental information because we believe it is a useful indicator of our operating performance and is useful in comparing our operating performance with other companies in the airline industry. However, EBITDA should not be considered in isolation, as a substitute for net income prepared in accordance with U.S. GAAP or as a measure of a company’s profitability. In addition, our calculation of EBITDA may not be comparable to other similarly titled measures of other companies. The following table presents a reconciliation of our net income to EBITDA for the specified periods.
                                         
    Year Ended December 31,
     
    2001   2002   2003   2004   2004
                     
    (in thousands)
EBITDA Reconciliation:(1)
                                       
Net income (loss)
  R$ (3,639 )   R$ 35,357     R$ 175,459     R$ 384,710     US$ 144,933  
Plus (minus)
                                       
Income taxes
          17,642       88,676       202,570       76,314  
Net interest and financial expense
    5,347       9,083       77,591       (10,979 )     (4,136 )
Depreciation
    2,383       7,885       13,844       21,242       8,003  
EBITDA
  R$ 4,091     R$ 69,967     R$ 355,570     R$ 597,543     US$ 225,114  
 
(1)  Aircraft rent represents a significant operating expense of our business. Because we leased all of our aircraft during the periods presented, we believe that when assessing our EBITDA you should also consider the impact of our aircraft rent expense, which was R$58,816 in 2001, R$130,755 in 2002, R$188,841 in 2003, and R$195,504 in 2004.

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MANAGEMENT’S DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF
FINANCIAL CONDITION AND RESULTS OF OPERATIONS
      You should read this discussion in conjunction with our consolidated financial statements and the related notes and the other financial information included elsewhere in this prospectus.
Overview
      We are one of the most profitable low-cost airlines in the world and had net revenues of R$2.0 billion and net income of R$384.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. We are the only low-fare, low-cost passenger airline currently operating in Brazil providing frequent service on routes connecting all of Brazil’s major cities. We focus on increasing the growth and profits of our business by stimulating and meeting demand for affordable, convenient air travel in Brazil and between Brazil and other South American destinations for both business and leisure passengers. We do this by offering simple, safe and efficient services while having among the lowest operating costs in the airline industry worldwide.
      The Registrant is a holding company that was incorporated on March 12, 2004. Shares of Gol, an off-shore finance subsidiary, cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments are currently the Registrant’s only material assets.
      Gol was incorporated in August 2000 and began transporting passengers in January 2001 with six single-class Boeing 737-700 Next Generation aircraft serving five cities in Brazil. By the end of 2004, we were operating 27 single-class Boeing 737 Next Generation aircraft serving 35 cities in Brazil and one destination in Argentina. We have flown over 23 million passengers since commencing operations and, according to the DAC, Brazil’s civil aviation authority, our share of the domestic market based on revenue passenger kilometers grew from 11.8% in 2002 to 19.4% in 2003 and 22.3% in 2004. The increase in our fleet size and flight frequencies, entry into new markets and new customer segments have been primarily accountable for yearly increases in our revenues (106.6% between 2002 and 2003 and 40.0% between 2003 and 2004) and operating costs (72.0% between 2002 and 2003 and 30.8% between 2003 and 2004).
      We offer travelers a low-fare, high-quality transportation alternative that we believe is an attractive value compared to conventional airline and bus transportation. We have a diversified passenger base, with customers ranging from business passengers traveling within densely populated centers in Brazil, such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte, to leisure passengers traveling to destinations throughout Brazil and from Brazil to Argentina.
      We are the lowest cost provider of passenger air transportation in South America, and one of the lowest cost airlines in the world. Our low costs have helped us to become the most profitable airline in South America and one of the most profitable low-cost carriers in the world, based on results of operations for the year ended December 31, 2004.

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      Set forth in the table below is information about key performance indicators for select leading low-cost carriers worldwide and other South American carriers.
                                 
    Operating            
    Income   Net Income        
    (in Millions of   (in Millions of   Operating   Net Income
Company   US$)   US$)   Margin   Margin
                 
Low-cost carriers:
                               
Southwest Airlines
    554.0       313.0       8.5 %     4.8 %
Ryanair(1)
    351.0       305.2       23.6 %     20.5 %
Gol(2)
    217.1       144.9       29.4 %     19.6 %
Virgin Blue(3)
    161.0       114.0       14.5 %     10.3 %
Jet Blue Airways
    112.9       47.5       8.9 %     3.8 %
EasyJet(4)
    91.7       74.4       4.6 %     3.8 %
Air Asia(5)
    16.1       12.9       15.6 %     12.5 %
South American carriers:
                               
LanChile(6)
    172.1       163.6       8.2 %     7.8 %
TAM(7)
    111.0       128.5       6.5 %     7.5 %
Varig(7)
    203.3       (32.8 )     6.1 %     (1.0 )%
 
(1)  U.S. GAAP figures through September 30, 2004. Half-year figures through September 30, 2004 are unaudited. Based on a Euro/US Dollar exchange rate of 0.8051 as of September 30, 2004.
(2)  U.S. GAAP figures through December 31, 2004. Based on a Brazilian Real/US Dollar exchange rate of 2.6544 as of December 31, 2004.
(3)  Australian GAAP figures through September 30, 2004. Half-year figures through September 30, 2004 are unaudited. Based on an Australian Dollar/US Dollar exchange rate of 1.3806 as of September 30, 2004.
(4)  UK GAAP figures through September 30, 2004. Based on a British Pound/US Dollar exchange rate of 0.5526 as of September 30, 2004.
(5)  Malaysian GAAP figures through June 30, 2004. Based on a Malaysian Ringitt/US Dollar exchange rate of 3.80 as of June 30, 2004.
(6)  Original figures in US Dollars.
(7)  Brazilian GAAP figures through December 31, 2004. Based on a Brazilian Real/US Dollar exchange rate of 2.6544 as of December 31, 2004.
     The following table demonstrates the growth of our operations, on a quarterly basis, since we commenced our operations in January 2001:
                         
    Cities   Number of   Operating
At Period Ended   Served   Departures   Aircraft(1)
             
March 31, 2001
    7       3,771       6  
June 30, 2001
    10       5,493       7  
September 30, 2001
    11       6,540       9  
December 31, 2001
    16       8,923       10  
March 31, 2002
    16       9,791       15  
June 30, 2002
    20       13,040       15  
September 30, 2002
    20       13,880       16  
December 31, 2002
    21       15,954       19  
March 31, 2003
    24       17,349       21  
June 30, 2003
    25       18,298       21  
September 30, 2003
    25       19,685       22  
December 31, 2003
    28       20,107       22  
March 31, 2004
    28       20,825       22  
June 30, 2004
    28       20,838       22  
September 30, 2004
    30       22,299       23  
December 31, 2004
    36       23,746       27  
 
(1)  To date, all of our aircraft have been leased.

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     We carefully evaluate opportunities to grow, and expect to continue the growth of our business by purchasing or leasing additional aircraft, increasing the frequency of flights to our existing high-demand markets, adding new routes to overpriced routes in Brazil and introducing flights from Brazil to new South American destinations. During 2004 and early 2005, we added 10 new frequencies between Congonhas in São Paulo and Santos Dumont in Rio de Janeiro, introduced services to João Pessoa, and commenced flights between Guarulhos in São Paulo and Buenos Aires, Argentina. Our flights between São Paulo and Buenos Aires quickly achieved profitability, and we added seasonal scheduled night flights between Navegantes International Airport and Porto Alegre and Buenos Aires in January 2005. On January 20, 2005, we were authorized by the CERNAI to operate regularly-scheduled flights from Brazil to Santa Cruz de La Sierra, Bolivia, which we expect to begin operating during the second quarter of 2005. We have applied to the DAC for regulatory approval for routes from Brazil to Montevideo, Uruguay and Asunción, Paraguay. We expect to receive a decision in respect of these applications during the second half of 2005.
      We have placed firm purchase orders with The Boeing Company for 30 737-800 Next Generation aircraft and we have options to purchase an additional 33 737-800 Next Generation aircraft. Currently, six firm order aircraft are to be delivered in 2006, thirteen in 2007, seven in 2008 and four in 2009. The purchase options are exercisable for deliveries between 2007 and 2010. We expect to take delivery of four Boeing 737-800, three Boeing 737-700 and two Boeing 737-300 aircraft during the first half of 2005, and two Boeing 737-800, one Boeing 737-700 and one Boeing 737-300 aircraft during the second half of 2005, all under operating leases. To help meet short-term capacity needs while we await the delivery of the new aircraft, we took delivery, under two- or three-year operating leases, of three Boeing 737-300 aircraft in the third quarter of 2004 and two Boeing 737-300 aircraft in the fourth quarter of 2004.
Recent Developments
      For the three-month period ended March 31, 2005, we generated net operating revenues of R$589.2 million, as compared to net revenues of R$433.1 million for the corresponding period in 2004, an increase of 36.0%. During the three-month periods ended March 31, 2005 and March 31, 2004, we had available seat kilometers of 2,728 million and 2,144 million, respectively, revenue passenger kilometers of 2,002 million and 1,544 million, respectively, revenues per available seat kilometer of R$21.59 cents and R$20.20 cents, respectively, and a load factor of 73.4% and 72.0%, respectively. The following table sets forth our net operating revenues, available seat kilometers, revenues per available seat kilometer and load factor for the three months ended March 31, 2004 and 2005:
                         
    Three Months Ended    
    March 31,    
         
    2005   2004   Change
             
Net operating revenues (in millions)   R $589.2     R $433.1       36.0 %
Available seat kilometers (in millions)(1)
    2,728       2,144       27.3 %
Revenue passenger kilometers (in millions)(1)
    2,002       1,544       29.7 %
Revenues per available seat kilometer (in cents)
  R $21.59     R $20.20       6.9 %
Load factor(1)
    73.4 %     72.0 %     + 1.4 p.p.
 
(1)  Source: DAC — final data for 2004 and preliminary data for 2005.
Revenues
      We derive our revenues primarily from transporting passengers on our aircraft. Approximately 96% of our revenues are derived from passenger fares, and the remaining 4% of our revenues are derived principally from our cargo business, which utilizes available cargo space on our passenger flights. Substantially all of our passenger revenue and cargo revenue is denominated in reais. Passenger revenue is recognized either when transportation is provided or when the ticket expires unused. Cargo revenue is recognized when transportation is provided. Other revenue consists primarily of charter services, ticket change fees and excess baggage charges. Passenger revenues are based upon our capacity, load factor and yield. Our capacity is measured in terms of available seat kilometers, which represents the number of seats we make available on our aircraft

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multiplied by the number of kilometers the seats are flown. Load factor, or the percentage of our capacity that is actually used by paying customers, is calculated by dividing revenue passenger kilometers by available seat kilometers. Yield is the average amount that one passenger pays to fly one kilometer.
      The following table sets forth our capacity, load factor and yield for the periods indicated.
                                 
    Year Ended December 31,
     
    2001   2002   2003   2004
                 
Capacity (in available seat kilometers, in millions)
    2,090.7       5,048.9       7,526.6       8,843.9  
Load factor
    60.1 %     62.5 %     64.2 %     71.1 %
Yield (in R$ cents)
  R$ 17.8     R$ 20.4     R$ 27.7     R$ 29.8  
Growth in passenger revenues per available seat kilometer
          19.3 %     39.6 %     28.6 %
      We have increased our revenues by increasing our capacity (in terms of fleet size and departures), load factor and yield. We believe that our careful focus on serving specific segments of the domestic air travel market, the value that we offer our customers and our low fares distinguish us from other airlines and enable us to continue increasing our capacity to take advantage of strong, untapped demand for low-cost, low-fare services.
      The continued strong demand for our services, our efficient route network, quick aircraft turnaround times and our modern fleet have enabled us to maintain a high aircraft utilization rate, which, together with our effective revenue management strategies that balance our fares and load factors, further strengthened our yields and passenger revenue per available seat kilometer in 2004. In 2004, our yield and passenger revenue per available seat kilometer increased 7.6% and 28.6%, respectively, as compared to 2003, while load factors increased 10.9% during the same period.
      The DAC may influence our ability to generate revenues. The DAC approves the concession of slots, entry of new companies, launch of new routes, increases in route frequencies and lease or acquisition of new aircraft. As an element of government measures designed to improve the financial health of the Brazilian major carriers operating in the Brazilian civil aviation industry, since March 2003 airlines have been required to demonstrate satisfactory levels of demand and profitability before the DAC will approve requests for new routes, increases in flight frequencies or the lease or acquisition of additional aircraft. Our ability to grow and to increase our revenues is dependent on the receipt of approvals for new routes, increased frequencies and additional aircraft from the DAC.
      Our revenues are net of certain taxes, including state-value added taxes, Imposto sobre Circulação de Mercadorias e Serviços, or ICMS; federal social contribution taxes, including Programa de Integração Social, or PIS, and the Contribuição Social para o Financiamento da Seguridade Social, or COFINS. ICMS does not apply to passenger revenues. The average rate of ICMS on cargo revenues varies by state from 4% to 12%. PIS and COFINS are imposed at rates of 1.65% and 7.6%, respectively, of gross operating revenues.
      Generally, the revenues from and profitability of our flights reach their highest levels during the January and July summer and winter vacation periods and in the final two weeks of December during the Christmas holiday season. The week during which the annual Carnival celebrations take place in Brazil is generally accompanied by a decrease in load factors. Given our high proportion of fixed costs, this seasonality is likely to cause our results of operations to vary from quarter to quarter. We generate most of our revenue from ticket sales through our website, and we are one of the largest e-commerce companies in Brazil in terms of net sales through the internet.
Operating Expenses
      We have low operating expenses because we operate a simplified fleet with a single-class of service, have one of the newest fleets in the industry, utilize our aircraft efficiently, use and encourage low-cost ticket sales and distribution processes and employ other cost-saving practices not widely applied across the industry. The main components of operating expenses include those related to aircraft fuel, aircraft rent, aircraft mainte-

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nance, sales and marketing, and salaries, wages and benefits provided to employees, including provisions for our profit sharing plan.
      Our aircraft fuel expenses are higher than those of low-cost airlines in the United States and Europe because there is only one significant supplier of jet fuel in Brazil and taxes applicable to the sale of jet fuel are very high and are passed along to us. Our aircraft fuel expenses are variable and fluctuate based on global oil prices. From January 1, 2001 to December 31, 2004, the price of West Texas Intermediate crude oil, a benchmark widely used for crude oil prices that is measured in barrels and quoted in U.S. dollars, increased by 59.7% from US$27.21 per barrel to US$43.45 per barrel. Since global oil prices are U.S. dollar-based, our aircraft fuel costs are also linked to fluctuations in the exchange rate of the real versus the U.S. dollar. As we can generally adjust our fares to offset fuel price increases and real exchange rate declines over a period of several months, we currently enter into short-term arrangements to hedge against short-term trends in oil prices and foreign exchange fluctuations. We believe that since 1970, companies operating in Brazil’s domestic airline industry generally have been able to minimize the impact of Brazilian currency depreciations and devaluations by making changes to their fare structures.
      Our aircraft rent expenses are in U.S. dollars and have increased in line with the expansion of our operations. We also use short-term arrangements to hedge against exchange rate exposure related to our lease payment obligations. In addition, approximately 16% of our aircraft operating leases have floating-rate payment obligations that are based on fluctuations in international interest rates. We currently have a hedging program in place to manage our interest rate exposure.
      Our maintenance, material and repair expenses consist of light and scheduled heavy maintenance of our aircraft. Maintenance and repair expenses, including overhaul of aircraft components, are charged to operating expenses as incurred. Our aircraft require a low level of maintenance because the average age of the aircraft in our fleet is currently 6.8 years. We also currently incur lower maintenance expenses because most of the parts on our aircraft are under multi-year warranties. If the age of our fleet increases and our warranties expire, our maintenance expenses under U.S. GAAP will increase. For an explanation of the treatment of maintenance and repair expenses under U.S. GAAP, see Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements. We have maintenance reserve accounts denominated in U.S. dollars to cover a portion of our future maintenance costs. We intend to internalize the heavy maintenance currently performed on our aircraft by independent third party contractors. On January 12, 2005, with the approval of INFRAERO, the state-controlled corporation in charge of managing and controlling federal airports, we signed a letter of intent with the government of the state of Minas Gerais to construct a new maintenance facility at Tacredo Neves International Airport, located in the city of Confins in Minas Gerais. We believe that the construction of the new maintenance facility and the internalization of our aircraft maintenance operations will provide cost savings.
      Our sales and marketing expenses include commissions paid to travel agents, fees paid for our own and third-party reservations systems and agents, fees paid to credit card companies and advertising. Our distribution costs are lower than those of other airlines in Brazil on a per available seat kilometer basis because a higher proportion of our customers purchase tickets from us directly through our website instead of through traditional distribution channels, such as ticket offices, and we have comparatively fewer sales made through higher cost global distribution systems. We generated 49%, 58% and 76% of our passenger revenues through our website in the years ended December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively, including internet sales through travel agents.
      Salaries, wages and benefits paid to our employees increase as the number of our employees grows and include annual cost of living adjustments and provisions made for our profit sharing plan. We have no seniority-related increases in these costs due to our salary structure.
      Aircraft and traffic servicing expenses include ground handling and the cost of airport facilities. Other operating expenses consist of general and administrative expenses, purchased services, equipment rentals, passenger refreshments, communication costs, supplies and professional fees.
      During the period between the beginning of 2001 and December 31, 2004, we reduced our break-even load factor, which is the passenger load factor that will result in operating revenues being equal to operating

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expenses, from 61.5% to 52.5%. This decrease has been primarily due to increases in yield and revenues per available seat kilometer due to our effective revenue management system, combined with the spreading of fixed costs over a greater number of available seat kilometers.
      Our operating margin, which measures operating income as a percentage of operating revenues, has consistently improved during the first four years of our operations and was among the highest in the airline industry worldwide in 2004, according to publicly-filed company reports.
Brazilian Economic Environment
      As a company with substantially all of its operations currently in Brazil, we are affected by general economic conditions in the country. While our growth since 2001 has been primarily driven by our expansion into new markets and increased flight frequencies, we have also been affected by macroeconomic conditions in Brazil. In 2004, our growth outpaced Brazil’s GDP growth of 5.2% and the growth of our primary competitors because of strong demand for our lower fare service. However, the GDP growth rate will become increasingly important in determining our future growth capacity and our results of operations, primarily because the DAC’s approval of requests for new routes and increases in flight frequencies will depend in part on its perception of Brazil’s macroeconomic environment. From 1970 through 2004, Brazilian air traffic demand grew at a rate of approximately 2.0 times Brazil’s GDP growth. In 2004, air traffic demand grew 11.9%, which was approximately 2.3 times Brazil’s GDP growth of 5.2%.
      Our results of operations are affected by currency fluctuations. Almost all of our revenues are denominated in reais (with a small portion of our revenues from our flights between Brazil and Argentina being denominated in Argentine pesos), but a significant part of our operating expenses are either payable in or affected by the U.S. dollar, such as our aircraft operating lease payments, related maintenance reserves and deposits, and jet fuel expenses. Based on a statistical analysis of our first four years of operations, we believe that our revenues are highly correlated with the real/U.S. dollar exchange rate and jet fuel prices because real depreciations and increases in jet fuel prices are generally incorporated into the fare structures of Brazilian airlines. Approximately 49% of our operating expenses (including aircraft fuel) are denominated in, or linked to, U.S. dollars and therefore vary with the real/U.S. dollar exchange rate. We believe that our foreign exchange and fuel hedging programs protect us against short-term swings in the real/U.S. dollar exchange rate and jet fuel prices. Overall, we believe that the combination of our revenue stream, with its correlation to movements in the real/U.S. dollar exchange rate, and short-term hedges on the U.S. dollar-linked portion of our expenses, will mitigate the adverse effect on our operating expenses of abrupt movements in the real/U.S. dollar exchange rate.
      Inflation has also had, and may continue to have, effects on our financial condition and results of operations. Approximately 51% of our operating expenses (excluding aircraft fuel) are denominated in reais, and the suppliers and service providers of these expense items generally attempt to increase their prices to reflect Brazilian inflation.
      Since presidential elections were held in Brazil in 2002, the Brazilian economy has moved towards increased stability. The country went through a period of market turmoil in the second half of 2002 as investors feared that, if elected, the Labor Party led by Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva would change the economic policies of the previous administration. The real fluctuated significantly as a result, depreciating by 52.3% during the year and closing at R$3.5333 to US$1.00 on December 31, 2002. Inflation for the year, as measured by the IGP-M, was 25.3% and real GDP grew by 1.9%.
      The Labor Party government administration has largely continued the macroeconomic policies of the previous administration, focusing on fiscal responsibility. In 2003, investor confidence rebounded as a result and the real appreciated by 18.2% against the U.S. dollar to R$2.8892 per US$1.00 at December 31, 2003. Inflation in 2003, as measured by the IGP-M, decreased to 8.7%. However, Brazil’s real gross domestic product, or GDP, increased 0.5% to US$506.8 billion during 2003, despite the very high interest rates that prevailed at the beginning of 2003 to combat inflationary pressures, which also acted to constrain economic growth.

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      During 2004, Brazil’s GDP increased 5.2% to US$559.6 billion and the country achieved a trade surplus of US$33.7 billion, its highest trade surplus ever. Inflation in 2004, as measured by the IGP-M, was 12.4% and 7.6% as measured by the IPCA. The Brazilian Central Bank’s year-end inflation target for each of 2005 and 2006 is 4.5%, based on the IPCA index, within a band of 2.5 and 2.0 percentage points, respectively. Interest rates continued to be high, with the CDI rate averaging 17.8% in 2004. In 2004, the real appreciated by 8.1% against the U.S. dollar, reflecting continued investor confidence. On April 27, 2005, the U.S. dollar/real exchange rate was R$2.5195 per US$1.00.
      The following table shows data for real GDP growth, inflation, interest rates, the U.S. dollar exchange rate and crude oil prices for and as at the periods indicated.
                         
    December 31,
     
    2002   2003   2004
             
Real growth in gross domestic product
    1.9 %     0.5 %     5.2 %
Inflation (IGP-M)(1)
    25.3 %     8.7 %     12.4 %
Inflation (IPCA)(2)
    12.5 %     9.3 %     7.6 %
CDI rate(3)
    24.8 %     16.3 %     17.8 %
LIBOR rate(4)
    1.4 %     1.1 %     2.4 %
Depreciation (appreciation) of the real vs. U.S. dollar
    52.3 %     (18.2 )%     (8.1 )%
Period-end exchange rate—US$1.00
   R$ 3.5333      R$ 2.8892      R$ 2.6544  
Average exchange rate—US$1.00(5)
   R$ 2.9983      R$ 3.0600      R$ 2.917  
Increase (decrease) in West Texas intermediate crude (per barrel)
    57.3 %     4.2 %     33.6 %
West Texas intermediate crude (per barrel)
  US$ 31.20     US$ 32.52     US$ 43.45  
West Texas intermediate crude (average per barrel during period)
  US$ 26.17     US$ 31.06     US$ 41.51  
 
Sources: Fundação Getúlio Vargas, the Central Bank and Bloomberg
(1)  Inflation (IGP-M) is the general market price index measured by the Fundação Getúlio Vargas.
(2)  Inflation (IPCA) is a broad consumer price index measured by the Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística.
(3)  The CDI rate is average of inter-bank overnight rates in Brazil (accumulated for period-end month, annualized).
(4)  Three-month U.S. dollar LIBOR rate as of the last date of the period. The LIBOR rate is the London inter-bank offer rate, which is the rate applicable to the short-term international inter-bank market.
(5)  Represents the average of the exchange rates on the last day of each month during the period.

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Results of Operations
      The following table sets forth certain components of our income for the years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002.
                                     
    Year Ended December 31,
     
    2002   2003   2004   2004
                 
    (In thousands)
Net operating revenues:
                               
 
Passenger
  R$ 643,549     R$ 1,339,191     R$ 1,875,475     US$ 706,553  
 
Cargo and other
    34,330       61,399       85,411       32,177  
                         
   
Total net operating revenues
    677,879       1,400,590       1,960,886       738,730  
Operating expenses:
                               
 
Salaries, wages and benefits
    77,855       137,638       183,037       68,956  
 
Aircraft fuel
    160,537       308,244       459,192       172,993  
 
Aircraft rent
    130,755       188,841       195,504       73,653  
 
Aircraft insurance
    23,186       25,850       25,575       9,635  
 
Sales and marketing
    96,626       191,280       261,756       98,612  
 
Landing fees
    32,758       47,924       57,393       21,622  
 
Aircraft and traffic servicing
    47,381       58,710       74,825       28,189  
 
Maintenance, materials and repairs
    16,160       42,039       51,796       19,513  
 
Depreciation
    7,885       13,844       21,242       8,003  
 
Other operating expenses
    22,654       44,494       54,265       20,443  
                         
   
Total operating expenses
    615,797       1,058,864       1,384,585       521,619  
Operating income
    62,082       341,726       576,301       217,111  
Other expenses:
                               
 
Interest expense
    (16,530 )     (20,910 )     (13,444 )     (5,065 )
 
Financial income (expense), net
    7,447       (56,681 )     24,423       9,201  
                         
Income before income taxes
    52,999       264,135       587,280       221,248  
 
Income taxes current
    (1,396 )     (60,747 )     (165,710 )     (62,428 )
 
Income taxes deferred
    (16,246 )     (27,929 )     (36,860 )     (13,886 )
                         
Net income
  R$ 35,357     R$ 175,459     R$ 384,710     US$ 144,933  
                         
Earnings per share, basic and diluted(1)
  R$ 0.36     R$ 1.07     R$ 2.14     US$ 0.81  
Weighted average shares used in computing earnings per share, basic and diluted (in thousands)(1)
    98,268       164,410       179,731          
Earnings per ADS, basic and diluted
  R$ 0.72     R$ 2.14     R$ 4.28     US$ 1.61  
 
(1)  Our preferred shares are not entitled to any fixed dividend preferences, but are instead entitled to receive dividends per share in the same amount of dividends per share paid to holders of our common shares. However, our preferred shares are entitled to receive distributions prior to holders of the common shares. Consequently, our earnings (loss) per share are computed by dividing income by the weighted average number of all classes of shares outstanding during the year. Preferred shares are excluded during any loss period. We have no dilutive securities.
Year 2004 Compared to Year 2003
      Our net income for the year 2004 increased to R$384.7 million from R$175.5 million for 2003, an increase of R$209.3 million. We had operating income of R$576.3 million in 2004, an increase of R$234.6 million from 2003, and our operating margin was 29.4%, an increase of 5.0 points from 2003. Income before income taxes increased 122.3% to R$587.3 million, resulting in increased income and social contribution taxes to R$202.6 million in 2004 from R$88.7 million in 2003. Our effective tax rate was 34% in 2004 and 2003, respectively.

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      Net Operating Revenues. Net operating revenues increased 40.0%, or R$560.3 million, due primarily to increased passenger revenues. Increased passenger revenues resulted from an 7.6% increase in our yield, a 16.3% increase in capacity and a 6.7 point increase in our load factor from 64.3% to 71.1%. The increase in capacity was driven by the addition of over 100 regularly-scheduled departures. A 28.6% increase in revenue passenger kilometers resulted in an increase of our market share to 22.3% from 19.2% in 2003. Cargo and other revenue increased by R$24.0 million due primarily to increases in revenues from our cargo service operations. Revenue growth was facilitated by the average number of aircraft in service increasing from 21.6 to 22.3.
      Operating Expenses. Operating expenses increased 30.8%, or R$325.7 million, due primarily to a 49.0% increase in the average cost of jet fuel and a 36.8% increase in our sales and marketing expenses. Operating expense increases were partially offset by higher productivity and decreases in average aircraft rents and aircraft insurance premiums as a result of the 8.1% appreciation of the real against the U.S. dollar. Operating capacity increased by 16.3% to 8.84 billion available seat kilometers due to scheduled capacity that allowed us to add over 100 additional regularly scheduled flight frequencies. Additionally, we increased aircraft utilization from 12.8 block hours per day in 2003 to 13.6 block hours per day in 2004. Operating expenses per available seat kilometer increased 12.4% to R$15.66 cents, primarily as a result of the increase in the average cost of jet fuel and the increase in sales and marketing expense, partially offset by spreading our fixed costs over more available seat kilometers. The breakdown of our operating expenses for 2004 compared to 2003 is as follows (percent changes are based on unrounded numbers):
                                     
    Year Ended        
    December 31,       Percentage of
        Percent   Net Revenues
    2003   2004   Change   (2004)
                 
    (cost per        
    available seat        
    kilometer in        
    R$ cents)        
Operating expenses:
                               
 
Salaries, wages and benefits
    1.83       2.07       13.1  %     9.3 %
 
Aircraft fuel
    4.10       5.19       26.6  %     23.4 %
 
Aircraft rent
    2.51       2.21       (12.0 )%     10.0 %
 
Aircraft insurance
    0.34       0.29       (14.7 )%     1.3 %
 
Sales and marketing
    2.54       2.96       16.5  %     13.4 %
 
Landing fees
    0.64       0.65       1.6  %     2.9 %
 
Aircraft and traffic servicing
    0.78       0.85       9.0  %     3.8 %
 
Maintenance, materials and repairs
    0.56       0.59       5.4  %     2.7 %
 
Depreciation
    0.18       0.24       33.3  %     1.1 %
 
Other operating expenses
    0.60       0.61       1.7  %     2.8 %
                         
   
Total operating expenses
    14.07       15.66       11.3  %     70.6 %
                         
   
Cost per flight hour
    13.45       14.94       11.1  %      
   
Break-even load factor
    50.8 %     52.5 %     3.3  %      
      Salaries, wages and benefits increased 33.0%, or R$45.4 million, due to a 34.7% increase in full-time equivalent employees from 2,453 at the end of 2003 to 3,307 at the end of 2004, a 5.8% increase in wage rates due to cost of living increases, R$27.2 million in provisions for our profit sharing plan and crew training costs to support the addition of five Boeing 737-300 aircraft in the second half of 2004. Cost per available seat kilometer increased 13.2% due to the provision for profit sharing, partially offset by increased productivity per employee and higher capacity.
      Aircraft fuel expense increased 49.0%, or R$150.9 million, primarily due to an increase in average fuel cost per liter of 24.2% and 53.0 million more liters of fuel being consumed (a 20.0% increase from 2003), partially offset by our fuel efficient fleet and pricing power, which helped to mitigate the increase in jet fuel

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prices. Cost per available seat kilometer increased 26.6% due primarily to the increase in the average fuel cost per liter.
      Aircraft rent increased 3.5%, or R$6.7 million, due to an increase in the average size of our fleet to 22.3 aircraft from 21.6, partially offset by a lower average rent for the five additional Boeing 737-300 aircraft that we are leasing on two- and three-year contracts to meet short-term capacity needs and the 8.1% appreciation of the real against the U.S. dollar. Cost per available seat kilometer decreased 12.0% due to high aircraft utilization of 13.6 block hours per day.
      Aircraft insurance expense decreased 1.1%, or R$0.3 million, primarily due to the appreciation of the real against the U.S. dollar during the year and a decrease in our average insurance premium rates. Cost per available seat kilometer decreased 14.7% due to the same reasons.
      Sales and marketing expense increased 36.8%, or R$70.5 million, primarily due to increased ticket sales per real of passenger revenues, increased advertising expenses related to the opening of 11 new bases and higher credit card fees resulting from higher passenger revenues, partially offset by reductions in travel agency commissions. We sold 76.4% of our tickets through our website in 2004 as compared to 57.9% in 2003. Travel agents accounted for 74.9% of our online ticket sales in 2004 as compared to 75.9% in 2003. Cost per available seat kilometer increased 16.5% as a result of these factors.
      Landing fees increased 19.8%, or R$9.5 million, due to a 16.2% increase in departures and a 3.0% increase in average landing tariffs. Cost per available seat kilometer increased 1.6%.
      Aircraft and traffic servicing expense increased 27.4%, or R$16.1 million, due to the start-up of 11 new bases. Cost per available seat kilometer increased 9.0% as a result of fixed costs relating to the new bases.
      Maintenance, materials and repairs increased 23.2%, or R$9.8 million, due to 0.7 average additional aircraft in operation as well as 27 scheduled airframe checks and engine repairs in 2004, as compared to 19 performed in 2003. Cost per available seat kilometer increased 5.4% due to the same reasons.
      Depreciation increased 53.4%, or R$7.4 million, due primarily to a R$6.0 million depreciation of inventoried aircraft spare parts. Cost per available seat kilometer increased 33.3% due to the depreciation of the aircraft spare parts.
      Other operating expenses increased 22.0%, or R$9.8 million, due to an increase in general and administrative expenses related to the expansion of our operations. Cost per available seat kilometer increased 4.9% due to the expansion of our operations.
      Other Income (Expense). Interest expense and financial income (expense), net decreased R$88.6 million, due to increases of R$32.3 million in interest income on cash balances and R$32.3 million in hedging gains, and decreases of R$10.7 million in interest expenses and R$11.0 million in exchange variation losses.
Year 2003 Compared to Year 2002
      Our net income for the year 2003 increased to R$175.5 million from R$35.4 million for 2002, an increase of R$140.1 million. We had operating income of R$341.7 million, an increase of R$279.6 million over 2002, and our operating margin was 24.4%, an increase of 15.2 points from 2002. Income before income tax increased 398.4% to R$264.1 million resulting in increased income and social contribution taxes to R$88.6 million in 2003 from R$17.6 million in 2002. Our effective tax rate was 34% and 33% in 2003 and 2002, respectively.
      Net Operating Revenues. Net operating revenues increased 106.6%, or R$722.7 million, due primarily to increased passenger revenues. Increased passenger revenues resulted primarily from a 43.2% increase in departures, a 1.7 point increase in our load factor from 62.5% to 64.2% and a 35.8% increase in our yield. Other revenue increased by R$27.1 million due primarily to increases in revenues from our cargo service operations. Revenue growth was facilitated by the average number of aircraft in service increasing from 15.3 to 21.6.

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      Operating Expenses. Operating expenses increased 72.0%, or R$443.1 million, due primarily to operating an average of 6.3 additional aircraft during 2003, increased flight departures during the period, an increase in the average cost of jet fuel and an increase in our sales and marketing expenses. Operating capacity increased by 49.1% to 7.53 billion available seat kilometers due to scheduled capacity increases and an increase in aircraft utilization by 4.1%. Operating expenses per available seat kilometer increased 15.3% to R$14.07 cents, primarily as a result of a 19.4% increase in the average cost of jet fuel and a 98.0% increase in sales and marketing expense, partially offset by spreading our fixed costs over a larger fleet and a decrease in our average insurance premium rates. The breakdown of our operating expenses for 2003 compared to 2002 is as follows (percent changes are based on unrounded numbers):
                                     
    Year Ended        
    December 31,       Percentage of
        Percent   Net Revenues
    2002   2003   Change   (2003)
                 
    (cost per        
    available seat        
    kilometer in        
    R$ cents)        
Operating expenses:
                               
 
Salaries, wages and benefits
    1.54       1.83       18.6  %     9.8 %
 
Aircraft fuel
    3.18       4.10       28.8  %     22.0 %
 
Aircraft rent
    2.59       2.51       (3.1 )%     13.5 %
 
Aircraft insurance
    0.46       0.34       (25.2 )%     1.8 %
 
Sales and marketing
    1.91       2.54       32.8  %     13.7 %
 
Landing fees
    0.65       0.64       (1.9 )%     3.4 %
 
Aircraft and traffic servicing
    0.94       0.78       (16.9 )%     4.2 %
 
Maintenance, materials and repairs
    0.32       0.56       74.5  %     3.0 %
 
Depreciation
    0.16       0.18       17.8  %     1.0 %
 
Other operating expenses
    0.45       0.60       31.8  %     3.2 %
                         
   
Total operating expenses
    12.20       14.07       15.3  %     75.6 %
                         
   
Cost per flight hour
    11.31       13.45       18.9  %      
   
Break-even load factor
    59.8 %     50.8 %     (15.0 )%      
      Salaries, wages and benefits increased 76.8%, or R$59.8 million, due to an 18.4% increase in full-time equivalent employees from 2,072 at the end of 2002 to 2,453 at the end of 2003, increases in wage rates of 7.8% due to cost of living increases and R$19.1 million in provisions for our profit sharing plan. Cost per available seat kilometer increased 18.6% due to the salary increases and the provision for profit sharing, partially offset by increased productivity and higher capacity.
      Aircraft fuel expense increased 92.0%, or R$147.7 million, primarily due to 100.4 million more liters of fuel being consumed (a 61.2% increase from 2002) and an increase in average fuel cost per liter. Cost per available seat kilometer increased 28.8% due primarily to the increase in the average fuel cost per liter.
      Aircraft rent increased 44.4%, or R$58.1 million, due to an increase in the average size of our fleet to 21.6 aircraft from 15.3, partially offset by the 18.2% appreciation of the real against the U.S. dollar during the year. Cost per available seat kilometer decreased 3.1% due to higher aircraft utilization and the appreciation of the real against the U.S. dollar.
      Aircraft insurance expense increased 11.5%, or R$2.7 million, due to higher aggregate premiums paid on a larger fleet size, partially offset by the 18.2% appreciation of the real against the U.S. dollar during the year and a decrease in average insurance premium rates. Cost per available seat kilometer decreased 25.2% due to the appreciation of the real against the U.S. dollar and the decrease in average insurance premium rates.
      Sales and marketing expense increased 98.0%, or R$94.7 million, primarily due to a higher amount of bookings through travel agents, increased advertising expenses and higher credit card fees resulting from

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increased passenger revenues. We booked a majority of our ticket sales through a combination of our website (57.9% in 2003) and our call center (18.5% in 2003). Travel agents accounted for 75.9% of our internet bookings in 2003. Cost per available seat kilometer increased 32.8% as a result of these factors.
      Landing fees increased 46.3%, or R$15.2 million, due to a 43.2% increase in departures and a 1.1% increase in average landing tariffs. Cost per available seat kilometer decreased 1.9%.
      Aircraft and traffic servicing expense increased 23.9%, or R$11.3 million, primarily due to an increase in our operations from 21 to 28 airports served and a 43.2% increase in departures. Cost per available seat kilometer decreased 16.9% as a result of fixed costs being spread over a higher number of available seat kilometers.
      Maintenance, materials and repairs increased 160.1%, or R$25.9 million, due to 6.3 average additional aircraft in operation as well as six scheduled airframe checks and engine repairs in 2003. Cost per available seat kilometer increased 74.5% due to the airframe checks and engine repairs.
      Depreciation increased 75.6%, or R$6.0 million, due primarily to a 102.9% increase in our inventory of aircraft spare parts and, to a lesser extent, a 95.4% increase in computer equipment resulting from the expansion of our operations. Cost per available seat kilometer increased 17.8% due to increased depreciable assets.
      Other operating expenses increased 96.4%, or R$21.8 million, due to an increase in general and administrative expenses related to the expansion of our operations. Cost per available seat kilometer increased 31.8% due to the expansion of our operations.
      Other Income (Expense). Interest expense and financial income (expense), net increased 754.2%, or R$68.5 million, due to increased working capital financing and R$29.9 million in foreign exchange losses recorded on U.S. dollar forward contracts purchased in March 2003 against future lease payments, partially offset by R$16.9 million in non-cash foreign exchange gains on U.S. dollar-denominated maintenance reserves.
Liquidity and Capital Resources
      In managing our liquidity, we take into account our cash and cash equivalents and short-term investments as well as our accounts receivable balances. Our accounts receivable balance is affected by the payment terms of our credit card receivables. Our customers can purchase seats on our flights using a credit card and pay in installments, typically creating a one- or two-month lag between the time that we pay our suppliers and expenses and the time that we receive payment for our services. When necessary, we obtain working capital loans, which can be secured by our receivables, to finance the sale-to-cash collection cycle. At December 31, 2004, we had cash and cash equivalents of R$405.7 million, short-term investments of R$443.4 million and accounts receivable of R$386.4 million, as compared to cash and cash equivalents of R$146.3 million, no short-term investments and accounts receivable of R$240.6 million at December 31, 2003.
      At December 31, 2004, we had six revolving lines of credit, which allow for total borrowings of up to R$225.3 million. One of our revolving lines of credit is secured by our credit card receivables and allows for borrowings of up to R$50.7 million. As of December 31, 2004, there were no amounts outstanding under this facility. Another revolving credit facility is secured by a certificate of deposit and allows for borrowings of up to R$49.6 million. As of December 31, 2004, R$25.8 million was outstanding under this facility. Another line of credit is secured by notes receivables and allows for total borrowings of up to R$125.0 million. As of December 31, 2004, R$92.5 million was outstanding under this facility.
      Operating Activities. We rely primarily on cash flows from operations to provide working capital for current and future operations. Cash flows from operating activities totaled R$274.1 million in 2004, R$85.2 million in 2003 and R$17.0 million in 2002. The increase in operating cash flows over these periods was primarily due to the growth of our business. Net cash provided by investing and financing activities was R$14.7 million in 2004 and R$51.6 million in 2003. Net cash used in investing and financing activities was

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R$12.7 million in 2002. The increase in net cash provided by investing and financing activities in 2004 was due primarily to the capital we raised in our initial public offering in June 2004.
      Our operating cash flows are affected by the requirement under the terms of our aircraft operating leasing agreements that we establish maintenance reserve accounts for our aircraft that must be funded at specified levels. At December 31, 2004, we had R$104.2 million of deposits under our aircraft operating leases for aircraft and engine maintenance. We believe the amounts deposited in these reserve accounts currently exceed the amounts actually required to maintain our aircraft, given the young age of our fleet. As our fleet ages and maintenance costs increase, funds will be drawn from the maintenance reserve accounts to pay for structural maintenance. Over the next three years, we expect that we will be required to continue to make deposits in maintenance reserve accounts. The amount we will be required to deposit in the maintenance reserve accounts will be affected by a number of factors in addition to our fleet size and number of hours flown, including changes in maintenance rates and the ability to substitute other instruments for cash deposits. We believe the amounts to be deposited will be sufficient to service our future aircraft and maintenance costs for the duration of the applicable operating leases.
      We believe that we can meet our existing financial commitments and aircraft rent obligations with our cash and cash equivalents, and cash from operations, short-term investments and accounts receivable collected.
      Investing Activities. During 2004, capital expenditures were R$533.4 million, which included expenditures of R$85.4 million related to our purchase of aircraft spare parts. During 2003, capital expenditures were R$42.7 million, which included expenditures of R$38.2 million related to our purchase of aircraft spare parts. Capital expenditures for facilities improvements and hardware purchases was R$4.0 million. We reduced our aircraft lease security deposits by R$3.5 million during 2003. During 2002, capital expenditures were R$22.4 million, which included expenditures of R$16.9 million related to our purchase of aircraft spare parts. Capital expenditures for other property and equipment, including ground equipment purchases and facilities improvements, was R$5.5 million. Aircraft lease security deposits increased by R$12.1 million during 2002.
      Financing Activities. Financing activities during 2004 consisted primarily of short-term borrowings of R$79.4 million and the proceeds from the issuance of R$470.4 million of preferred shares in our initial public offering. Financing activities during 2003 consisted primarily of short-term borrowings of R$16.1 million and the issuance of R$94.2 million of preferred shares of Gol. Financing activities during 2002 consisted primarily of a reduction of short-term debt by R$14.2 million and the issuance of R$16.5 million of common shares. We did not pay any dividends in respect of the fiscal year 2002. We declared R$26.5 million and R$60.7 million of dividends for the fiscal years 2003 and 2004, respectively, which were accrued on our balance sheet as “Other Current Liabilities” and paid in March 2004 and 2005, respectively. Under our by-laws, at least 25% of our adjusted net income, as calculated under Brazilian GAAP and adjusted under the Brazilian corporation law (which differs significantly from net income as calculated under U.S. GAAP), for the preceding fiscal year must be distributed as a mandatory annual dividend. See “Dividends and Dividend Policy—Mandatory Distributions.” The most significant adjustment to U.S. GAAP net income in arriving at adjusted net income under Brazilian GAAP relates to the accounting for additions to our maintenance deposits. Under U.S. GAAP, additions to our maintenance deposits are deferred and such deposits are charged to operating expense as maintenance is incurred. Under Brazilian GAAP, additions to our maintenance deposits are charged to operating expenses when made.
      Capital Resources. We typically finance our leased aircraft through operating lease financings. Although we believe that debt and/or operating lease financings should be available for our future aircraft deliveries, we cannot assure you that we will be able to secure financings on terms attractive to us, if at all. To the extent we cannot secure financing, we may be required to modify our aircraft acquisition plans or incur higher than anticipated financing costs. We expect to continue to require working capital investment due to the use of credit card installment payments by our customers. We have two lines of credit that are secured by our accounts receivable. We expect to meet our operating obligations as they become due through available cash and internally generated funds, supplemented as necessary by short-term credit lines.
      We currently have DAC approval to operate 31 aircraft and we structure our growth plans in a way that is mindful of the DAC’s criteria for the granting of new routes and frequencies. Our growth plans contemplate

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operating approximately 75 aircraft by the end of 2010. We have placed firm purchase orders with The Boeing Company for 30 737-800 Next Generation aircraft and we have options to purchase an additional 33 737-800 Next Generation aircraft. Currently, six firm order aircraft are to be delivered in 2006, thirteen in 2007, seven in 2008 and four in 2009. The purchase options are exercisable for deliveries between 2007 and 2010. Committed expenditures for these aircraft, based on aircraft list price and including estimated amounts for contractual price escalations and pre-delivery deposits, are US$31.5 million in 2005, US$192.6 million in 2006, US$983.2 million in 2007, US$820.1 million in 2008 and US$612.5 million in 2009. We expect to meet our pre-delivery deposits by using cash from operations or borrowings under short-term credit facilities and/or vendor financing. We expect to finance the balance of the purchase price of the Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft through a combination of means, such as cash and funds generated from operations, low-interest bank financing and credit agreements, sale and leaseback transactions, additional equity or debt offerings and/or vendor financing. The firm orders represent a significant financial commitment for us. Pending the application of the proceeds from our initial public offering, as well as the proceeds from this global offering, we invest these funds in overnight deposits and deposit certificates with highly-rated Brazilian banks and temporary investments, mainly highly-rated Brazilian government bonds. As of December 31, 2004, we had approximately R$842 million of these temporary investments. Most of the temporary investments are held in an account managed by an unaffiliated, independent third party. Although the account manager has the discretion in selecting investment instruments for the managed account, this discretion is limited by the charter of the managed account and the cash management policies approved by our risk policies committee. See note 4 to our consolidated financial statements included elsewhere in this prospectus. While we expect that a preliminary commitment to us from the Export-Import Bank of the United States to provide guarantees covering approximately 85% of the aggregate purchase price for the firm order aircraft will assist us in obtaining low-cost financing for the purchase of the firm order aircraft, we may be required to use our own cash resources for the remaining 15% of the aggregate purchase price for the firm order aircraft. To the extent that we do not have sufficient cash resources to do so, we may be required to modify our aircraft acquisition plans or to incur higher than anticipated financing costs, which would have an adverse impact on the execution of our growth strategy and business.
Contractual Obligations
      Our non-cancelable contractual obligations at December 31, 2004 included the following (in millions of reais):
                                         
        Less than           More than
    Total   1 Year   1-3 Years   3-5 Years   5 Years
                     
Aircraft and engine operating leases
  R$ 759.3     R$ 200.8     R$ 381.5     R$ 170.5     R$ 6.5  
Short-term borrowings
    118.3       118.3                    
Long-term vendor payables
    9.2             9.2              
                               
Total
  R$ 886.8     R$ 319.1     R$ 390.7     R$ 170.5     R$ 6.5  
                               
Off-Balance Sheet Arrangements
      None of our operating lease obligations are reflected on our balance sheet. We are responsible for all maintenance, insurance and other costs associated with operating these aircraft; however, we have not made any residual value or other guarantees to our lessors.
Critical Accounting Policies and Estimates
      The preparation of our consolidated financial statements in conformity with U.S. GAAP requires our management to adopt accounting policies and make estimates and judgments to develop amounts reported in our consolidated financial statements and related notes. We strive to maintain a process to review the application of our accounting policies and to evaluate the appropriateness of the estimates that are required to prepare our consolidated financial statements. We believe that our estimates and judgments are reasonable; however, actual results and the timing of recognition of such amounts could differ from those estimates. In

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addition, estimates routinely require adjustment based on changing circumstances and the receipt of new or better information.
      Critical accounting policies and estimates are defined as those that are reflective of significant judgments and uncertainties, and potentially result in materially different outcomes under different assumptions and conditions. The policies and estimates discussed below have been reviewed with our independent auditors. For a discussion of these and other accounting policies, see Note 2 to our consolidated financial statements.
      Accounting for Long-lived Assets. In accounting for long-lived assets, we make assumptions about the expected useful lives of our assets and the potential for impairment. Our long-lived assets are evaluated for impairment when events and circumstances indicate that the assets may be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the carrying amount of those assets. Indicators include operating or cash flow losses, significant decreases in market value or changes in technology. If impairment occurs, any loss is measured by comparing the fair value of the asset to its net book value. As our assets are all relatively new and we continue to have positive cash flow, we have not identified any impairments related to long-lived assets at this time.
      Risk Management Instruments Used for Aircraft Fuel and Foreign Exchange. We utilize financial risk management instruments to manage the price risk of changing aircraft fuel prices and the foreign exchange risk of our U.S. dollar-denominated liabilities. The contracts are recorded at current market value in the balance sheet with any gains or losses recorded in financial expense. Forward jet fuel prices are estimated through the observation of similar commodity futures prices (such as crude oil) and adjusted based on variations to those like commodities. As the majority of our contracts settle within three months, the variation between estimates and actuals are recognized within a short period of time.
      Accounting for stock-based compensation. We account for stock-based compensation in coordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”, and related interpretations. Compensation expense for a stock option grant is recognized when the exercise price is less than the fair value of our preferred shares on the grant date.
      Pro forma information regarding our net profit and net profit per share is required by SFAS No. 123 and has been determined as if we accounted for employee stock options under the fair value method prescribed by SFAS No. 123. Considering the amounts involved, the application of SFAS No. 123 would not result in a material effect on our net income and earnings per share.
      On December 16, 2004, the FASB issued FASB Statement No. 123 (revised 2004), or FASB Statement No. 123(R), “Share-Based Payment,” which is a revision of FASB Statement No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation.” FASB No. 123(R) supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees” and amends FASB Statement No. 95, “Statement of Cash Flows.” Generally, the approach in FASB Statement No. 123(R) is similar to the approach described in FASB Statement No. 123. However, FASB Statement No. 123(R) requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized in the income statement based on their fair value. Pro forma disclosure is no longer an alternative.
      Companies must adopt FASB Statement No. 123(R) no later than July 1, 2005. We expect to adopt FASB Statement No. 123(R) in our 2005 financial statements using the modified-perspective method. As permitted by FASB Statement No. 123, we currently account for share-based payments to employees using APB Opinion No. 25’s intrinsic value method. Accordingly, the adoption of FASB Statement No. 123(R)’s fair value method will affect how we account for stock-based compensation in the future. The impact of adoption of FASB Statement No. 123(R) will not be material to our reported results.
      Deposits for aircraft and engine maintenance. U.S. dollar deposits for aircraft and engine maintenance, as stipulated in our respective lease agreements, are made to specific accounts in the name of the lessor responsible for the maintenance services. Certain required aircraft and engine maintenance, as stipulated in our respective lease agreements, are funded from these deposits. Our actual aircraft and maintenance expenditures could differ from these deposits. We are required to pay the lessor for maintenance expenditures that exceed deposited amounts. We can apply deposit amounts that exceed maintenance expenditures to the final lease payment.

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Outlook for 2005
      We expect to expand our operations by adding additional flights to existing domestic routes, adding new domestic routes where sufficient market potential exists and expanding into high-traffic centers in other South American countries. We expect to commence flights between Brazil and Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia in the second quarter of 2005, and between Brazil and Montevideo, Uruguay and Asuncíon, Paraguay by the end of 2005. As in previous years, in 2005 we will also concentrate on keeping our operating costs low and pursuing ways to make our operations more efficient.
      Given the demand for our services, we believe that we will continue to have significant growth opportunities. We expect to benefit from economies of scale and reduce our average cost per available seat kilometer as we add additional aircraft to an established and efficient operating infrastructure. We currently have applications with the DAC to add additional routes and flight frequencies. We expect our operating capacity to increase approximately 50% with the addition of up to 13 aircraft in 2005, which will increase our available seat kilometers and operating costs on an aggregate basis.
      We expect jet fuel prices will continue to be high in 2005 and we plan to use our fuel and foreign exchange hedging programs to help protect us against short-term movements in crude oil prices and the real/ U.S. dollar exchange rate.
Quantitative and Qualitative Disclosures About Market Risk
      The risk inherent in our market risk sensitive instruments and positions is the potential loss arising from adverse changes to the price of fuel, interest rates and the real/ U.S. dollar exchange rate.
      Aircraft Fuel. Our results of operations are affected by changes in the price and availability of aircraft fuel. To manage the price risk, we utilize crude oil derivative contracts. All of our derivative instruments must be liquid so as to allow us to make position adjustments and have prices that are widely disclosed. We avoid concentration of credit risk. All existing contracts settle on a monthly basis. We do not purchase or hold any derivative instruments for trading purposes. At December 31, 2004, we had crude oil derivative contracts outstanding for up to 120,000 barrels of oil. The fair value of such contracts was R$1.5 million. Market risk is estimated on a hypothetical 10% increase in the December 31, 2004 cost per liter of fuel. Based on projected 2005 fuel usage, such an increase would result in an increase to aircraft fuel expense of approximately R$70.9 million in 2005, not considering our derivative contracts. We acquire a substantial amount of our fuel and oil from one supplier.
      Foreign Currencies. A significant part of our costs and operating expenses, such as aircraft and engine maintenance services, aircraft lease payments and aircraft insurance, are denominated in U.S. dollars. To manage exchange rate risk, we enter into derivative contracts with various counterparties to protect ourselves against a possible depreciation or devaluation of the real in relation to the U.S. dollar. At December 31, 2004, we had no outstanding currency futures contracts. As of December 31, 2004, as a measure of our market risk with respect to our foreign currency exposure, an increase in aircraft and engine maintenance services expenses, aircraft operating lease payments and aircraft insurance from a hypothetical R$0.10 depreciation of the real against the U.S. dollar would be approximately R$10.2 million in 2005, not considering our derivative contracts.
      Interest. Our earnings are affected by changes in interest rates due to the impact those changes have on interest expense from variable-rate debt instruments, variable-rate leasing contracts and on interest income generated from our cash and investment balances. At December 31, 2004, 14.8% of our aircraft rental expenses had floating interest rates. If interest rates average 10% more in 2005 than they did during 2004, our aircraft rental and interest expense would increase by approximately R$9.5 million. If interest rates average 10% less in 2005 than they did in 2004, our interest income from cash equivalents and short-term investments would decrease by approximately R$4.7 million. These amounts are determined by considering the impact of the hypothetical interest rates on our variable-rate debt, variable-rate leasing contracts and cash equivalent balances at December 31, 2004.

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INDUSTRY OVERVIEW
      Most long-distance public travel services within Brazil are provided by interstate bus companies. In 2003, Brazil’s domestic airline industry transported almost 30 million passengers, as compared to over 132 million passengers transported by interstate bus companies in 2003, according to the Brazilian Department of Highways (Departamento de Transportes Rodoviários). Brazil has no meaningful interstate passenger rail services.
      The business travel segment is the largest component of Brazilian air transportation demand and the most profitable in the market. According to the DAC, business travel represents approximately 70% of the total demand for domestic air travel in 2003, which we believe is significantly higher than the proportion of domestic air travel in the global aviation sector that is comprised of business travel. According to data collected from the DAC, flights between Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo accounted for 12.5% and 12.8% of all domestic passengers in 2002 and 2003, respectively. The ten busiest routes accounted for 35.5% and 37.1% of all domestic air passengers in 2002 and 2003, respectively, while the ten busiest airports accounted for 74.5% and 74.9% of all domestic passenger traffic through INFRAERO airports in terms of arrivals and departures in 2003 and 2004, respectively.
      The table below sets forth information about the ten busiest routes for air travel in Brazil during 2003.
                 
        Route
City Pair   Passengers   Market Share
         
São Paulo—Rio de Janeiro(1)
    3,743,356       12.8%  
São Paulo (Congonhas)—Brasília
    1,248,940       4.3%  
São Paulo (Congonhas)—Belo Horizonte (Pampulha)
    1,084,659       3.7%  
São Paulo (Congonhas)—Curitiba
    954,703       3.3%  
São Paulo (Congonhas)—Porto Alegre
    934,319       3.2%  
Brasília—Rio de Janeiro (Santos Dumont)
    688,214       2.4%  
Salvador—São Paulo (Guarulhos)
    583,217       2.0%  
Belo Horizonte (Pampulha)—Rio de Janeiro (Santos Dumont)
    555,043       1.9%  
São Paulo (Congonhas)—Florianópolis
    547,687       1.9%  
Rio de Janeiro (Galeão)—Salvador
    493,337       1.7%  
 
Source: DAC, from Anuário Estatístico.
(1)  Includes flights between Congonhas and Guarulhos to either Santos Dumont or Galeão airports.
     The scheduled domestic passenger airline industry in Brazil is primarily served by Gol and two main competitors—Varig and TAM. By the end of 2004, Gol, TAM and Varig accounted for over 97% of the market share of domestic regular routes, measured in terms of revenue passenger kilometers. In 2003, Varig and TAM initiated discussions to merge their operations and entered into a code-sharing arrangement. However, the merger plans have been cancelled, and in January 2005, Varig and TAM entered into an agreement with the Brazilian antitrust agency (CADE) to end the code-sharing arrangements by mid-May 2005. Varig has significant levels of indebtedness, and its financial condition and prospects are uncertain. VASP was once a primary competitor. However, by December 2004, VASP accounted for less than 1% of the market share of domestic regular routes, and its remaining flights were terminated in January 2005.
      Since air transportation has historically been affordable only to the higher income segment of Brazil’s population, resulting in a comparatively low level of air travel, we believe that the low-cost, low-fare business model has the potential to significantly increase the use of air transportation in Brazil. According to the DAC, there were 29.2 million domestic enplanements and 7.8 million international enplanements in Brazil in 2003, out of a total population of approximately 181 million, according to the Brazilian Geographical and Statistical Institute (Instituto Brasileiro de Geografia e Estatística—IBGE). In contrast, according to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the United States had 587.5 million domestic enplanements and 116.9 million international enplanements in 2004, out of a total population of approximately 293 million,

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according to the latest U.S. census figures. By way of further comparison, Atlanta’s Hartsfield International Airport, the busiest airport in the United States, by itself had 37.7 million domestic enplanements in 2004.
      Set forth in the table below is the number of passengers traveling by air between Brazil and other specified South American countries during 2003, as well as the gross domestic product and population of each listed country.
                                 
            GDP   Population
Country   Enplanements   Percentage of Total   (in billions of US$)   (in millions)
                 
Argentina
    1,223,599       51.6 %     129.7       37.9  
Chile
    384,230       16.2 %     72.1       16.0  
Uruguay
    251,359       10.6 %     11.2       3.4  
Bolivia
    149,950       6.3 %     8.6       8.8  
Paraguay
    144,252       6.1 %     5.8       6.0  
Colombia
    87,769       3.7 %     77.8       45.3  
Peru
    82,528       3.5 %     60.6       27.5  
Venezuela
    48,833       2.0 %     84.9       26.2  
                         
Total
    2,372,520       100 %     450.7       171.1  
                         
 
Sources: IMF World Economic Outlook April 2004, Population Reference Bureau: 2004 World Population Data Sheet and Emplanements: DAC
     In connection with our introduction of flights between Brazil and select destinations in neighboring South American countries, we must observe the terms of bilateral air transport agreements negotiated between Brazil and foreign governments. These bilateral agreements govern the operation of scheduled services between specified destinations in each country. See “—Regulation of the Brazilian Civil Aviation Market—Route Rights—International routes.”
Trends in Brazilian Civil Aviation Market
      Since 1970, Brazil has for the most part had stable growth in revenue passenger kilometers. From 1970 to 2004, revenue passenger kilometers grew at a compound annual rate of 8%. In the past 34 years, the domestic market generally experienced year over year growth in revenue passenger kilometers except in times of significant economic or political distress, such as the petroleum crisis in the 1970’s, the Brazilian sovereign debt crisis in the early 1980’s and the economic and political distress in Brazil in the early 1990’s.
      From 1997 to 2004, the compound annual growth rate in industry passenger traffic, in terms of revenue passenger kilometers, was 6.8% versus a compound annual growth rate in available industry capacity, in terms of available seat kilometers, of 4.7%. Industry load factors, calculated as revenue passenger kilometers divided by available seat kilometers, have averaged 59% over the same period. The table below shows the figures of domestic industry passenger traffic and available capacity for the periods indicated:
                                                                 
    1997   1998   1999   2000   2001   2002   2003   2004
                                 
    (In millions, except percentages)
Available Seat Kilometers
    31,146       38,121       40,323       41,437       45,008       47,109       41,927       42,991  
Available Seat Kilometers Growth
    8.7%       22.4%       5.8%       2.8%       8.6%       4.7%       (11.0)%       2.5%  
Revenue Passenger Kilometers
    17,824       22,539       22,204       24,284       26,296       26,780       25,180       28,186  
Revenue Passenger Kilometers Growth
    7.5%       26.5%       (1.5)%       9.4%       8.3%       1.8%       (6.0)%       11.9%  
Load Factor
    57.2%       59.1%       55.1%       58.6%       58.4%       56.8%       60.1%       65.6%  
 
Source: DAC, for 1997 to 2002 from Anuário Estatístico; and for 2003 and 2004 from Dados Comparativos Avançados.
     Historically, domestic airline industry revenue growth has generally surpassed Brazilian GDP growth. From 1997 to 2003, domestic airline industry revenue grew at a real compound annual growth rate of 6.2% (as

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adjusted by the IPCA inflation index) while Brazilian GDP has grown at a real compound annual growth rate of 1.5% over the same period, according to data from the DAC and the Central Bank.
      The airline industry in Brazil is regulated pursuant to Law No. 7,565, of December 19, 1986, also known as the Brazilian Aeronautical Code, as well as extensive regulations issued by the High Command of Aeronautics of the Ministry of Defense (Comando da Aeronáutica), the CONAC, and the DAC. Although the Brazilian airline sector was deregulated in the early 1990s, the DAC has imposed varying degrees of regulation since that time, and is charged with guiding, planning, stimulating and supporting the activities of public and private civil aviation as well as implementing international rules and conventions that have already been adopted by the Brazilian government. Changes in regulation often correspond to major socio-economic events, such as the Persian Gulf War and the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks, and we believe have been designed to shelter domestic carriers from major economic shocks. Currently, the DAC imposes a series of restrictions and demands on the standards, safety, maintenance, regularity and quality of air carrier operations. Brazilian airlines are permitted to establish their own domestic fares. Domestic fares can be reviewed by the DAC in order to prevent airlines, which are public concessionaires, from operating in a way that is detrimental to their economic viability. The DAC also monitors the concession of airport slots, entry of new companies, launch of new routes, increases in route frequencies and lease or acquisition of new aircraft. The regulatory environment relating to the Brazilian civil aviation market is evolving, and a number of new laws are being discussed in Congress and within various regulatory bodies that would change the way in which the industry is regulated. See “Regulation of the Brazilian Civil Aviation Market.”
      From 1986 until 1993, the Brazilian government placed stricter controls over local civil aviation activities, due to the extremely high rates of inflation that led to a severe economic crisis in Brazil during this period. The control exercised by the Brazilian government consisted mainly of monitoring air ticket prices charged by airlines and directing the use and expansion of their routes. In 1994, after a successful effort to curb inflation rates and stabilize the Brazilian economy, the Brazilian government, through the aviation authorities, began to deregulate the activities of the airline industry, which mainly consisted of a gradual reduction of the government control over the local activities of airlines. Although the airline industry in Brazil is still a regulated environment, the current rules of the DAC are significantly more flexible than past regulations and a number of underlying regulatory acts have been issued by the aviation authorities in order to harmonize the Brazilian regulatory environment with modern international regulatory models.
      In 2003, the CONAC issued guidelines to limit the entry of new concessionaires, the acquisition of new aircraft and the granting of new routes to existing concessionaires in order to protect the financial performance of the Brazilian airline industry as a whole. Based on these guidelines, in order to obtain authorizations for existing concessionaires to operate new routes and to change existing ones, the applicant must file with the DAC studies to justify the technical and economic viability of the requested route and the DAC will also consider the capacity of the airport infrastructure support, the increase in demand and competition among airlines.
      The current regulatory environment developed following an economic slowdown in Brazil and a significant decline in passenger air traffic in late 2001. According to the DAC, accumulated losses for the airline sector grew to R$5.9 billion in 2003 from R$1.47 billion in 2001. We believe the current regulatory regime has benefited the recent improved financial performance of the Brazilian airline sector and helped to shift the trend back towards stability. Brazilian airline industry yields increased from R$0.29 in 2002 to R$0.35 in 2003 with load factors of 56.8% in 2002 and 60.1% in 2003.

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BUSINESS
Overview
      We are one of the most profitable low-cost airlines in the world and had net revenues of R$2.0 billion and net income of R$384.7 million for the year ended December 31, 2004. We are the only low-fare, low-cost airline operating in Brazil providing frequent service on routes connecting all of Brazil’s major cities. We focus on increasing the growth and profits of our business by popularizing air travel and stimulating and meeting demand for affordable, convenient air travel in Brazil and between Brazil and other South America destinations for both business and leisure passengers. We do this by offering simple, safe and efficient services while having among the lowest operating costs in the airline industry worldwide. Our long-term business objective is to bring affordable air travel to all significant destinations in South America.
      We have flown over 23 million passengers since beginning operations in 2001 and, according to the DAC, Brazil’s civil aviation authority, our share of the domestic market based on revenue passenger kilometers grew from 4.7% in 2001 to 11.8% in 2002, 19.4% in 2003 and 22.3% in 2004.
      We began our operations in January 2001 with six single-class Boeing 737-700 Next Generation aircraft serving five cities in Brazil. We now operate 29 single-class Boeing 737 aircraft serving 37 cities in Brazil and one destination in Argentina. We have placed firm purchase orders with The Boeing Company for 30 737-800 Next Generation aircraft and we have options to purchase an additional 33 737-800 Next Generation aircraft. Currently, six firm order aircraft are scheduled to be delivered in 2006, thirteen in 2007, seven in 2008 and four in 2009. We took delivery, under two- and three-year operating leases, of five Boeing 737-300 aircraft in the second half of 2004, which we are using to help meet our short-term capacity needs while we await the delivery of the new 737-800 Next Generation aircraft.
      Our strategy is to offer travelers in Brazil and other South American countries a low-fare transportation alternative that we believe is cost-competitive versus conventional airline and bus transportation. We have a diversified revenue base, with customers ranging from business passengers traveling between densely populated cities in Brazil, such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Belo Horizonte, to leisure passengers traveling to destinations throughout Brazil and to Argentina. We carefully evaluate opportunities to continue the growth of our business through increasing the frequency of flights to our existing high-demand markets and adding new routes to overpriced routes in Brazil and to other South American destinations. In December 2004, we commenced service to Buenos Aires, our first destination outside of Brazil, and these flights have operated at an average load factor of more than 70%. We expect to commence service to Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia during the second quarter of 2005. We have applied for authorization to serve other additional markets outside of Brazil, and we intend to actively expand our cross-border services.
      Our affordable, reliable and simple service and our focus on markets that were either underserved or did not have a lower-fare alternative has led to a strong awareness of our brand and a rapid increase in our market share. Generally, our low operating costs allow us to set our fares at levels significantly lower than the average fares of our primary competitors. This approach has helped us win customer loyalty and in certain markets to stimulate demand by attracting new customers who previously used other means of travel or traveled less often due to price sensitivity. We have kept our operating costs low principally by maintaining a simplified aircraft fleet that is one of the industry’s newest, which reduces maintenance and fuel costs and facilitates our high aircraft utilization, and concentrating heavily upon internet-based distribution channels and sales. We offer a simplified product to our customers with single-class seating and a light snack and beverage service. We are an airline that effectively employs technology to make our operations more efficient. The strong promotion of internet-based distribution channels and sales is an integral element of our low cost structure and efficiency. This emphasis has made us one of the largest e-commerce businesses in South America in terms of revenues from sales over the internet. We have developed an innovative company culture that is supported by a highly motivated and streamlined workforce. Members of our senior management team have an average of approximately 20 years of experience in the domestic and international passenger transportation industries, and we have been able to draw upon this extensive experience to develop and strengthen our low-cost operating structure.

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      Our emphasis on controlling costs and yield management has given us flexibility in setting our fares to achieve a balance between our load factors and yields that we believe will generate the highest profitability for us. During a time when the airline industry globally was suffering from increased fuel prices, we generated net income of R$384.7 million in 2004. Our profitable results in 2004 were due largely to the economies of scale from the growth of our business and having a cost per available seat kilometer that was approximately 30% lower on a stage-length adjusted basis than that of our primary competitors, based upon our analysis of publicly available data.
      Our operating model is based on a highly integrated, multiple-stop route network that is a variation on the point-to-point model used by other successful low-cost carriers worldwide. The high level of integration of flights at selected airports permits us to offer frequent, non-stop flights at low fares between Brazil’s most important economic centers and ample interconnections through our network linking city pairs through a combination of two or more flights with little connecting or stop-over time. Our network also allows us to increase our load factors on our strongest city pair routes by using the airports in those cities to connect our customers onwards to their final destinations. This strategy increases our load factor by attracting customers traveling to secondary markets who prefer to pay lower fares even if this means making one or more stops before reaching their final destination. Finally, our operating model allows us to build our flight routes to add destinations to cities that would not, individually, be feasible to serve in the traditional point-to-point model, but that are feasible to serve when simply added as additional points on our multiple-stop flight network. We do this by offering low-fare early-bird or night flights to lower-traffic destinations, which are usually the first or last stops on our routes, allowing us to increase our aircraft utilization and generate additional revenues.
      The end result is that our operating model, when combined with our low fares and reliable service, stimulates demand for air travel, and helped us to achieve a load factor of 71% in 2004, as compared to an average domestic load factor of 63% for our three largest Brazilian competitors in the same period, according to the DAC. The interconnectivity of our network also resulted in approximately one-half of our passengers making connections or stops while traveling to their final destination. During 2004, we maintained high standards of operating efficiency and customer satisfaction, completing 98% of our scheduled flights with on-time performance of 97%, based on our internal data.
      We are controlled by Brazil’s Áurea group. The Áurea group has more than five decades of successful operating experience in Brazil’s bus transportation industry, and brings the benefits of this expertise in the Brazilian transportation industry to our strategy and operations.
Our Competitive Strengths
      Our principal competitive strengths are:
      We Keep Our Operating Costs Low. Our cost per available seat kilometer for the year ended December 31, 2004 was R$15.7 cents, or approximately US$5.9 cents. We believe that our cost per available seat kilometer for the year ended December 31, 2004, adjusted for the average number of kilometers flown per flight, was one of the lowest in the airline industry worldwide, and was on average approximately 30% lower than that of our primary competitors, based upon our analysis of data collected from publicly available information. Typically, airline operating costs per kilometer decrease as flight length increases. Our low operating costs are the result of being innovative and using best practices adopted from other leading low-cost carriers to improve our operating efficiency, including:
  Efficient use of aircraft. During 2004, our aircraft flew an average of 13.6 block hours per day, the highest aircraft utilization rate in the Brazilian domestic airline industry, according to the DAC, and among the highest worldwide according to airline company public filings. We achieve high aircraft utilization rates by operating a new fleet that requires less maintenance down time, accomplishing a fast turnaround on our aircraft between flights and operating more flights per day per aircraft than our competitors. The fast turnaround time for our aircraft between flights, which averages just 25 minutes, minimizes connection times for our passengers and enables our aircraft to fly an average of 11 flight legs a day, as compared to an estimated average of 7 flight legs a day by our primary competitors. We increase the speed of preparing our aircraft for the next flight by loading and unloading passengers

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  through front and rear aircraft doors when possible, minimizing catering requirements and having cabin crew assist with cleaning the aircraft. Our efficient use of our fleet has helped us to generate revenue at times when the aircraft of our competitors are still on the ground and has allowed us to spread our fixed costs over a greater number of flights and available seat kilometers. As part of our aircraft utilization strategy, we introduced night flights on certain routes in December 2003 at very low fares to increase utilization, generate higher load factors and stimulate demand. Our night flights, which generated average load factors of 90% in 2004, have helped us to make our fleet productive practically 24 hours per day. We also offer air cargo services on our flights to generate incremental revenue from space in the stronghold sections of our aircraft that would otherwise remain unutilized.
 
  Operation of a simplified fleet. Currently, we operate a simplified fleet type consisting of 29 Boeing 737 aircraft. We have firm orders and purchase options for up to 63 Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft. Delivery of the current firm order aircraft is scheduled to occur between 2006 and 2009 and the purchase options are exercisable for deliveries between 2007 and 2010. Having a fleet with minimal aircraft types reduces inventory costs, as fewer spare parts are required, and reduces the need to train our pilots to operate different types of aircraft. In addition, keeping the number of types of aircraft we operate to a minimum simplifies our maintenance and operations processes. As our maintenance technicians become better trained and perform maintenance procedures more efficiently, we are able to schedule preventive maintenance with more regularity, which helps to reduce costs. While our focus on having the lowest operating costs means that we will periodically review our fleet composition to ensure that it is achieving our low-cost goals, any decision we may make to introduce a new fleet type will be made only after carefully weighing the performance and profitability benefits of doing so against the emphasis we place on maintaining simplified operations.
 
  Use of efficient, low-cost distribution channels. Our effective use of technology helps us to keep our costs low and our operations highly scaleable and efficient. We seek to keep our distribution channels streamlined and convenient so as to allow our customers to interact with us directly via the internet. Approximately 80% of our ticket sales are through our website, and our customers can check-in for their flights online and by web-enabled cell phones. As a result of our emphasis on low-cost distribution channels, we generate more revenues from online ticket sales than any other airline company in Brazil. We enjoy significant cost savings associated with automated ticket sales, all while making the selection of travel options more convenient for our customers. We estimate that our distribution costs using our online ticket sales system is approximately 62% lower than our distribution costs involving more traditional means, such as the Global Distribution System, or GDS. In addition, like other low-cost carriers, but unlike our competitors, all travel on our flights is ticketless. The elimination of paper tickets saves paper costs, postage, employee time and back-office processing expenses. Also, we do not need to maintain physical ticket sales locations outside of airports.
 
  Flexible and efficient operating approach. We always seek the most cost-effective way of providing our services to our customers without compromising quality and safety. We constantly evaluate our operations to see if sensible cost-savings opportunities exist. As a result, we outsource the work that can be done properly and more efficiently by third parties and we internalize the functions that our employees can do more cost-efficiently. We have arrangements on competitive terms with third-party contractors at certain airports for passenger, aircraft and baggage handling, and call center customer services. We get competitive rates for these services by negotiating multi-year contracts at prices that are fixed or subject only to periodic increases linked to inflation. Conversely, we plan to internalize aircraft heavy maintenance work that is currently outsourced because we believe our employees can provide this service at a high standard and lower cost than third-party contractors. In addition, we will be able to better determine the timing of heavy maintenance so as to help maximize aircraft utilization.
      We Stimulate Demand for Our Services. We believe that through our low fares and high-quality service, we provide the best value in our markets and create demand for air travel services. Our average fares are lower than the average fares of our primary competitors. We identified and stimulated a demand among both business and leisure passengers for air travel that is convenient, simple and is a reasonably priced alternative to

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traditional air, bus and car travel. By combining low fares with simple and reliable service that treats passengers equally in a single-class environment, we have successfully increased our market share, strengthened customer loyalty and are we attracting a new group of air travelers in our markets. These new travelers did not previously consider air travel when making their plans due to the higher prices and more complicated sales procedures that preceded our entry into the market. For example, our night flights, for which we offer highly competitive fares, have proven to be very successful, generating average load factors of 90% during 2004. We believe our night flights attract passengers who previously relied upon bus or car travel and who have now become air travel customers. We estimate that on average, approximately 10% of the customers on our flights are either first-time flyers or have not flown for more than one year.
      We Have One of the Newest Fleets in the Industry. Our current fleet of 29 Boeing 737 aircraft has an average age of 6.8 years, making our fleet the newest in South America and one of the newest in the industry worldwide. We believe that the firm orders and purchase options we have for the delivery of up to 63 new Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft, with expected delivery dates between 2006 and 2010, will help us to retain this competitive advantage. Our new fleet has enabled us to enjoy a high degree of performance reliability and to develop a reputation among customers for being an airline that delivers a safe, on-time, modern and comfortable travel experience. Our Boeing 737-800/700 Next Generation aircraft type provides us with state-of-the-art technology and aerodynamics with increased flying speed, improved fuel efficiency and simplified maintenance procedures.
      We Have a Strong Brand that Is Widely Recognized Among Consumers. We believe that the Gol brand has become synonymous with innovation and value in the Brazilian domestic airline industry. Gol was chosen as the 2004 “Company of the Year” by the annual Melhores e Maiores (The Biggest and Best) edition of Exame magazine, one of the most important business publications in Brazil. Our customers also identify us as being accessible, friendly, fair and reliable and distinguish us in Brazil’s domestic airline industry on the basis of our modern and simplified approach to providing air travel services. Customer satisfaction surveys conducted in 2004 by Omni Marketing, an independent third-party market research firm, indicated that more than nine out of every ten passengers are satisfied with Gol, would fly again with Gol and consider Gol to be an innovative, modern and practical company. Our effort at promoting our brand awareness has earned us recognition from the marketing industry in Brazil as well. Our advertising campaigns received the Top of Marketing award from Brazil’s Association of Marketing and Sales Directors in 2002 and our website won the Ibest award, a major internet-related award in Brazil, for the best transportation website in 2003.
      We Have a Strong Financial Position. We have focused on maintaining a strong financial position with significant cash balances and a low debt to capitalization ratio. As of December 31, 2004, we had R$405.7 million of cash and cash equivalents, R$443.3 million of short-term investments, R$386.4 million of accounts receivable and R$289.4 million of U.S. dollar denominated deposits for aircraft leasing and aircraft engine maintenance contracts, representing a total of R$1,524.9 million. As of December 31, 2004, our debt to capitalization ratio was 9.3%.
      We Actively Manage Risk. We actively monitor movements in fuel prices, foreign exchange rates and interest rates. We are able to adjust our fares to compensate for changes in fuel prices and the exchange rate of the real versus the U.S. dollar. Our general policy is to hedge on a short-term basis a majority of the fuel we expect to consume and our U.S. dollar exchange rate exposure, so as to minimize the effects of adverse changes in the fuel or foreign exchange markets.
      We Have a Motivated Workforce and a Proven Management Team. We benefit from a highly motivated workforce that brings a new enthusiasm to air travel and a commitment to high standards of friendly and reliable quality service that we believe distinguishes us in our markets. We believe that the positive feedback we received from our customers in our customer satisfaction surveys is directly related to the priority our employees place on delivering top quality customer service. We invest a significant amount of time and resources into carefully developing the best training practices and selecting individuals to join our team who share our focus on ingenuity and continuous improvement. We conduct ongoing training programs that incorporate industry best practices and encourage strong and open communication channels among all of the members of our team so that we can continue to improve the quality of the services we provide. We also

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motivate our workforce by providing our employees with profit sharing and through participation in our stock option program. Our top managers have an average of approximately 20 years of experience in the Brazilian passenger transportation industries and this experience has helped us to develop the most effective elements of our low-cost model.
Our Strategy
      To continue the growth of our business and increase its profitability, our strategy will be to further stimulate customer demand by continuing to offer a single-class of air travel service at low fares, while maintaining a high standard of quality and safety. We will strive to keep our operating costs low and relentlessly pursue ways to make our operations more efficient. Our objectives are to provide the best travel value in the markets we serve, to encourage people to fly by making air travel accessible in our markets, and to further increase our market share. We will continue to evaluate opportunities to expand our operations by adding additional flights to existing high-demand routes and night-flight domestic routes, adding new domestic routes where sufficient market demand exists and expanding into other high-traffic centers in other South American countries. Our vision is to be recognized by 2010 as the airline that popularized high-quality, low-fare air transportation in South America. The following are the key elements of our strategy:
      To Expand Our Customer Base by Offering Services to High-Demand or Overpriced Routes. When planning the growth of our business, we will continue to establish bases, select our routes and build the frequency of our service based upon the extent and type of demand in the regions we serve in Brazil and other South American countries. In particular, we expect to increase our focus on business travelers from medium-sized companies, a growing customer base that tends to be more price sensitive, by closely monitoring the routes and flight frequencies that best serve their travel needs and increasing our marketing efforts directed at this segment of our customer base. For example, in response to the high volume of business travelers between Brazil’s primary financial centers, São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, we have increased our flight frequency on this route from 5 flights per day when we began transporting passengers in January 2001 to 55 flights per day. We are also very focused on stimulating demand and capturing market share in both the leisure and “visiting friends and relatives” market segments. For example, in response to a perceived demand for late evening flights linking São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro to allow travelers to avoid the need for overnight stays, we added night flight services between the two cities in December 2003 and to other cities in Brazil later on. Our night flights generated average load factors of 90% in 2004. We will continue to carefully evaluate opportunities to meet demand for leisure travel by expanding flight frequencies on existing routes, expanding successful night flight services and adding additional routes where we perceive a market demand, such as daytime flights to and from Guarulhos airport in São Paulo, Brazil’s largest airport.
      We believe that the same business model and route management techniques that we have successfully introduced in Brazil to help popularize air travel can also be used to capture market share and stimulate demand for air travel between Brazil and neighboring South American countries. We are pursuing opportunities to offer flights on routes between Brazil and select cities in other South American markets where growth opportunities exist. For example, we began offering daily services between Guarulhos and Buenos Aires, Argentina in December 2004. These flights quickly achieved profitability and we added seasonal scheduled night flights between Navegantes and Porto Alegre, Brazil and Buenos Aires, Argentina in January 2005. We expect to commence flights to Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia during the second quarter of 2005. The future addition of routes between Brazil and cities in neighboring South American countries will be based upon an extension of our existing network using the same growth strategy that has proven to be successful for us to date. We also expect that the introduction of these flights will add traffic to our network, increasing our overall load factor.
      To Continue to Reduce Our Operating Costs and Improve Operating Efficiency. Continuing to reduce our operating costs per available seat kilometer is a key to increasing profitability. We aim to remain one of the lowest cost airlines in the world. To date, we have worked toward achieving this goal by assembling a new fleet of single-class aircraft that is capable of safely and reliably accommodating a high utilization rate, incurs low maintenance costs and is fuel-efficient. We are also working to achieve this goal by using our aircraft efficiently, concentrating on minimizing our turnaround times at airports and increasing our number of daily

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flights per aircraft. We will also continue to utilize technological innovations wherever possible to reduce our distribution costs and improve our operating efficiency. We expect to benefit from economies of scale and reduce our average cost per available seat kilometer as we add additional aircraft to an established and efficient operating infrastructure. We intend to construct a new maintenance facility at Tancredo Neves International Airport in the State of Minas Gerais that will enable us to internalize the heavy maintenance currently performed on our aircraft by third party contractors. We expect that internalizing aircraft heavy maintenance will better allow us to determine the timing of heavy maintenance so as to help maximize aircraft utilization.
      To Keep Our Customer Service Offering Simple and Convenient. We believe that we are perceived by our customers as providing excellent value at reasonable fares and acting as a catalyst for changing the way the Brazilian airline industry works. In addition to offering low fares, our strategy is to make flying a simpler, more convenient experience. We have achieved this objective largely through the elimination of unnecessary extras and common-sense applications of technology. We encourage our customers to use the internet not only to make reservations, but also to make many of the arrangements from the comfort of their home or office that they would otherwise have to make at crowded airports or airline ticket offices, such as checking-in and changing their seat assignments. We provide free shuttle service between airports and drop-off zones on selected routes. We offer customers single-class, pre-assigned seating flights, do not overbook our flights and have designated female lavatories. Our strategy will be to continue to seek ways to make the Gol brand signify simplicity and convenience in the minds of air travelers.
      To Stimulate Demand with Low Fares. Our widely available low fares and superior product offering are designed to popularize air travel and stimulate demand, particularly from fare-conscious leisure travelers and small-to mid-size business travelers who might otherwise have used alternative forms of transportation or would not have traveled at all. Our strategy is to continue to stimulate demand and encourage more people to fly by continuing to provide a superior product and low-fares. We will also continue to provide our customers with flexible payment mechanisms, such as monthly installment payments. The following table shows total passengers enplaned at select airports served by us for the year ended December 31, 2000 (just before we commenced our operations) and the year ended December 31, 2004. The table also sets forth the date we commenced service at each airport and the compound annual growth rate of passengers enplaned at such airports.
                             
        Total Passenger    
        Traffic (Arrivals and    
        Departures) Year    
        Ended December 31,    
    Service       CAGR (%)
Airport   Commencement Date   2000   2004   2000-2004
                 
        (in millions)    
Brasília
  January 2001     5.43       9.90       16.2  
Salvador
  January 2001     3.02       3.86       6.3  
Curitiba
  May 2001     2.07       2.75       7.3  
Recife
  April 2001     2.14       3.02       9.0  
Porto Alegre
  January 2001     2.25       2.95       7.0  
Belo Horizonte
  January 2001     2.09       3.19       11.2  
Fortaleza
  December 2001     1.44       2.06       9.4  
Vitória
  November 2001     0.84       1.25       10.3  
Florianópolis
  January 2001     0.72       1.30       15.8  
Top 50 Airports
 
    55.61       71.22       6.4  
 
Source: INFRAERO
Routes and Schedules
      Our aircraft fly to various points on our route network linking our destinations. We generally offer direct flights between city pairs with high traffic volumes, such as São Paulo to Rio de Janeiro, which enables many

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of our business travelers to fly with us directly to their destinations. In 2004, we added ten additional flights between Congonhas in São Paulo and Santos Dumont in Rio de Janeiro. However, after directly connecting high-density cities along the primary business routes, our aircraft often make multiple stops linking other destinations, thereby also attracting passengers who prefer to pay lower fares even if this means making one or more stops or connections before reaching their final destination. This variation on the point-to-point approach to routing means, for example, that an aircraft flying on a high-traffic route such as between São Paulo and Brasília may, instead of returning to São Paulo upon the completion of the leg, continue northward from Brasília to Belém and then westward to Manaus before returning southward. We believe this model of flight scheduling has helped us to more frequently serve a greater number of cities, generate higher load factors and stimulate demand for air travel in new markets, while also enabling us to increase aircraft utilization and provides our customers with more destination options.
      We provide regularly scheduled services to 37 cities in Brazil and one destination in Argentina. During the second half of 2004 and beginning of 2005, we commenced regularly-scheduled services to 11 additional cities in Brazil— Londrina, Joinville, Uberlândia, Porto Velho, Rio Branco, Caxias do Sul, Foz do Iguaçu, Teresina, Petrolina, Aracaju and João Pessoa. In December 2004, we began offering two daily flights between Guarulhos International Airport in São Paulo and Ezeiza International Airport in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and in January 2005, we began offering seasonal scheduled flights between Navegantes and Porto Alegre, Brazil and Buenos Aires, Argentina. In October 2004, we began participating in the Aero Connect inter-line system, a flight network linking regional airlines’ routes with our own, broad national flight coverage, making it possible to connect several lower-traffic destinations to larger Brazilian cities through simple connections. By adding points of destination for our customers, we believe we can increase our overall load factor.
      The following table sets forth the cities we serve and the number of flights we have operated per day serving those cities for the periods shown (fractions have been rounded):
                         
    Flights per Day
     
City   2002   2003   2004
             
Aracajú
                1  
Belém
    4       4       4  
Belo Horizonte
    12       18       19  
Brasília
    21       23       25  
Buenos Aires
                1  
Campinas
    5       6       6  
Campo Grande
    3       4       5  
Caxias do Sul
                1  
Cuiabá
    2       2       3  
Curitiba
    15       16       20  
Florianópolis
    10       7       7  
Fortaleza
    5       6       8  
Foz do Iguaçu
                1  
Goiânia
    4       2       2  
Joinville
                1  
Macapá
    1       1       1  
Londrina
                2  
Maceió
          2       1  
Manaus
    2       2       3  
Maringá
    2       2       2  
Natal
    2       1       3  
Navegantes
    2       2       2  
Palmas
          1       1  
Porto Alegre
    10       12       13  

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    Flights per Day
     
City   2002   2003   2004
             
Porto Seguro
    1       2       2  
Porto Velho
                2  
Recife
    10       7       9  
Ribeirão Preto
                1  
Rio Branco
                2  
Rio de Janeiro
                       
 
Santos Dumont(1)
    21       25       13  
 
Galeão(1)
    13       12       29  
Salvador
    9       12       13  
São Luiz
          1       1  
São Paulo
                       
 
Congonhas
    36       44       55  
 
Guarulhos
          1       8  
Teresina
                1  
Uberlândia
                2  
Vitória
    5       6       6  
                   
   
Total
    195       221       276  
                   
 
(1)  In 2004, air traffic other than shuttle service between Rio de Janeiro and select cities was re-routed from Santos Dumont to Galeão.
     In addition to monitoring growing market demand for increased daily flight frequency on our existing routes, we also seek to offer services in markets with previously untapped demand. For example, the highly competitive fares we offer for travel on our night flights are set to compete with interstate bus companies for customers who may otherwise not have previously considered air travel as an option due to their price sensitivity. We are also pursuing opportunities to offer flights on routes between Brazil and select cities in other South American countries where favorable market opportunities exist using the same business model and route management techniques that have proven successful within Brazil. For example, in addition to our current daily flights to Buenos Aires, Argentina, on January 20, 2005, we were authorized by the Commission for Studies on International Navigation (Comissão de Estudos Relativos à Navegação Internacional, or CERNAI) to operate regular flights from Brazil to Santa Cruz de La Sierra, Bolivia, and we have also applied to the DAC for regulatory approval for routes to Montevideo, Uruguay and Asunción, Paraguay. We expect to receive a decision in respect of the application for these new cross-border routes during the second half of 2005.
Customer Value
      We recognize that while low fares may initially encourage people to fly with us, we must offer excellent services to ensure that a new customer will become a repeat customer. As a result, we pay particular attention to the details that help to make for a pleasant, hassle-free flying experience, including:
  ticketless travel;
 
  convenient on-line sales, check-in, seat assignment and flight change and cancellation services;
 
  web-enabled cell phone ticket sales and check-in;
 
  self check-in at kiosks at designated airports;
 
  airport parking discounts;
 
  designated female lavatories;
 
  single-class, pre-assigned seating;

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  friendly and efficient in-flight service;
 
  modern aircraft interiors;
 
  quick turnaround times at airport gates; and
 
  free or discounted shuttle services between airports and drop-off zones on certain routes.
      We also recognize that efficient and punctual operations are of primary importance to our customers. This emphasis resulted in our completion factor of 98% and on-time performance rate of 97% in 2004, based on company data.
      Based on feedback from our customers, we believe we are meeting and exceeding their service expectations, as more than 90% of those responding to a 2004 customer satisfaction survey conducted by Omni Marketing, an independent third-party market research firm, indicated that are completely satisfied with Gol, would fly again with Gol and consider Gol to be an innovative, modern and intelligent company.
Safety
      Our most important priority is the safety of our passengers and employees. We maintain our aircraft in strict accordance with manufacturer specifications and all applicable safety regulations, and perform routine line maintenance every day. Our pilots have extensive experience, with flight captains having more than 10,000 hours of career flight time, and we conduct ongoing courses, extensive flight simulation training and seminars addressing the latest developments in safety and security issues. We closely follow the standards established by the Air Accident Prevention Program of the DAC and we have installed the Flight Operations Quality Assurance System, which maximizes proactive prevention of incidents through the systematic analysis of the flight data recorder system. All of our aircraft are also equipped with Maintenance Operations Quality Assurance, a troubleshooting program that monitors performance and aircraft engine trends. The Brazilian civil aviation market follows the highest recognized safety standards in the world. Brazil is classified as a Category 1 country in flight safety standards by the International Civil Aviation Organization, which is the same classification held by the United States and Canada. We are also an active member of the Flight Safety Foundation, a foundation for the exchange of information about flight safety.
Sales and Distribution
      Our customers can purchase tickets from us through a number of different channels, including via our website, our call center and at airport ticket counters. Our customers can also purchase tickets from us through travel agents, who are an important, widely-used travel service resource in Brazil. All travel on our flights is 100% ticketless. While our customers have the convenience of choosing from any of our distribution options, we are primarily an internet-based company with respect to both distribution and sales. We strongly promote the use of our website because it is our most efficient distribution channel in terms of cost-savings and customer convenience. By focusing on virtual distribution, we are able to streamline our ticket sales and services and eliminate the need to incur costs associated with more traditional distribution channels, such as physical ticket sale centers located outside of airports. In addition to being cost-effective, focusing on internet distribution also provides our customers with high levels of convenience, as they are better able to interact with us when they want and how they want, in either Portuguese, English or Spanish. Consistent with our philosophy of using a “24 hours a day” operating strategy to generate revenues, such as through our high aircraft utilization and night flights, focusing on internet distribution allows us to conduct business with our customers 24 hours a day. As a result of this emphasis on virtual distribution, we have become one of the largest e-commerce businesses in South America in terms of revenue from internet-based sales. Our partnership with travel agents in Brazil also provides us with more than 5,000 virtual ticket counters throughout the country.
      For the year ended December 31, 2004, approximately 76% of our passenger revenues, whether directly to the customer or through travel agents, were made via the internet, making us one of the worldwide industry leaders in this area, as compared to 7% and 10% of our passenger revenues being made through call centers and the GDS, respectively. The remaining 7% of our passenger revenues for the year ended December 31,

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2004 were through our airport ticket counters and our internal systems. We estimate that we sell a ticket through our website every nine seconds.
      To illustrate the importance of continuing to focus on increasing internet-based ticket sales directly to our customers, it costs an average of approximately R$2.11 for each ticket sale made directly to a customer through our website. By comparison, internet ticket sales though travel agents cost an average of approximately R$3.95 per sale, call center ticket sales cost an average of approximately R$4.50 per sale and GDS ticket sales cost an average of approximately R$10.50 per sale.
      We currently outsource work related to our call center distribution channel to independent contractors working under the supervision of Gol employees. We intend to internalize our call center operations, as we believe we can implement measures to further reduce the cost of call center-based sales. Another measure we have taken to contain distribution costs is to issue paperless tickets only, which saves paper costs, postage, employee time and back-office processing expenses.
      An important element of our business strategy is to cater to the corporate client, one of the most demanding customers in the market. Approximately 60% of our passenger traffic consists of business customers and approximately two-thirds of our corporate client base consists of small-and medium-sized companies with fewer than 500 employees. Business travelers have provided greater stability in our demand, as they fly regularly and not only during peak travel seasons. We have increased flight frequencies, destinations and fleet size so that we can increase options for our corporate customers. To further develop our business relationship with our corporate customers, we have also entered into alliances with hotel chains and rental car service providers to offer our corporate customers the convenience of packaged transportation and accommodation arrangements. We will continue to focus on expanding our base of cost-conscious, medium-sized corporate clients who serve as a source of recurring revenues.
      We advertise primarily through cost-efficient media, including internet websites, radio spots, local newspaper ads and billboards. When establishing a route in a new market, approximately two weeks before we begin offering air travel services, we send representatives to high-concentration areas in the new market such as shopping malls, popular restaurants and discos to hold promotional giveaways and make people aware of their new travel option by focusing on our low fares and efficient service. Our Aqui todo mundo pode voar, or “Here everyone can fly” advertising campaign, launched in July 2004, has been very effective in promoting our objective to popularize air travel in Brazil.
      We also use innovative promotions to stimulate demand for air travel. For example, we first offered our night flights in December 2003 as a temporary measure designed to attract customers who may not have previously considered air travel as an option due to their price sensitivity and also to generate revenues from our aircraft at times they would otherwise have remained idle. These flights proved to be extremely popular among customers, achieving an average load factor of 90%, and so we decided to offer them on a permanent basis. In 2004, we introduced our Brasil mais perto, or “Brazil is closer”, campaign, which featured very low internet-based fares for weekend travel and we also offered promotional prices for certain customer segments, such as senior citizens and children. We believe that the high number of visits to our website, which averaged 650,000 visitors per month during the fourth quarter of 2004, are in part the result of the customer interest created by our promotions.
      Unlike other Brazilian airlines, we do not accept customer reservations for flights. Instead, tickets are paid for by our customers at the time their seat is secured. This eliminates the possibility of overbooking, and guarantees all of our ticketed customers a seat on our flights.
Awards
      We have received a number of awards for matters such as service excellence, our website, finance, marketing and social responsibility. Among the highlights were:
  The iBest Award (2004) for the best website in the transportation category;

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  Company of the Year (2004) in Exame magazine’s Melhores e Maiores, or “the Biggest and the Best” edition;
 
  Best Financial Management in Airline Sector (2004) in Isto é Dineiro magazine’s Melhores da Dinheiro 2004;
 
  Top Sales Award ADVB (Association of Sales and Marketing Professionals) (2003)
 
  Best Brazilian Airline (2003) by Transporte Moderno Magazine;
 
  Top Marketing Award ADVB (Association of Sales and Marketing Professionals) (2002); and
 
  A social responsibility award for our sponsorship of cultural and social programs by Editora Referência and Mídia Mundo Marketing.
Pricing
      Our emphasis on keeping our operating costs low has in turn allowed us to set low fares while achieving and increasing profitability. We have designed our fare structure to balance our load factors and yields in a way that we believe will generate the most profits from our flights. Our fares are below the average fares of our competitors and we dedicate most of our seats to the lower fare classes. As a result, we believe that we have established a reputation among our customers for more consistently delivering seats at our lowest advertised prices than do our competitors. Our approach to more transparent and competitive pricing has forced fares down in many of the markets that we have entered. Consistent with airline industry market practice in Brazil, with the exception of our deeply discounted night flights or special offers and promotions, we do not have advance purchase restrictions, minimum stays or required Saturday night stayovers. As provided for in the DAC regulations, passengers canceling travel plans on our flights are subject to a cancellation penalty. Passengers canceling their travel plans on our flights can either reschedule (if it occurs up to 24 hours prior to the flight and subject to the fare differential, if any), leave a credit for future flights or be reimbursed for 80% of their fare. If the cancellation occurs less than 24 hours before the scheduled flight time, there is an additional penalty of R$25.00. We charge no-show customers a R$40.00 change fee, plus fare differential, if any, to use their ticket for another flight. If the replacement flight has a lower fare than the original flight (after giving effect to the change fee), the customer receives a credit equal to the difference.
      In connection with our night flights, we set deeply discounted fares designed to compete with bus lines for travel to the same destinations. This approach has helped us to maximize our aircraft utilization rates to generate revenue during all times of the day. The night flights have also increased our customer base to include those who have previously only used other modes of transportation. The night flight fares usually require a two to five night minimum stay.
      We also adjust our pricing in accordance with changes in passenger volume stemming from imbalances in the direction of traffic, such as during the holiday season. These periods often create demand peaks that result in traffic flows that are weighted heavily in one direction, causing demand for seats in the other direction to be low. During these periods, we discount fares on the lower demand flights to stimulate traffic on those routes to help offset our fixed costs.
Yield Management
      Yield management involves the use of historical data and statistical forecasting models to produce knowledge about our markets and guidance on how to compete in them to maximize our operating revenues. Yield management and pricing form the backbone of our revenue generation strategy and they are also strongly linked to our route and schedule planning and our sales and distribution methods. Our yield management practices enable us not only to react quickly in response to market changes but also to anticipate and help shape market changes. For example, our yield management is instrumental in helping us to identify times and the routes for which we offer promotions. By offering lower fares for seats that our yield management indicates would otherwise remain unsold, we capture additional revenue and also stimulate customer demand.

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      The number of seats we offer at each fare level in each market results from a continual process of analysis and forecasting. Past sales history, seasonality, the effects of competition and current sales trends are used to forecast demand. Current fares and knowledge of upcoming events at destinations that will affect traffic volumes are included in our forecasting model to arrive at optimal seat allocations for our fares on specific routes. Also, our practice of not accepting seat reservations but instead requiring customers to pay for tickets at the time their seat is secured helps to increase the accuracy of our yield management. We use a combination of approaches, taking into account yields and flight load factors, depending on the characteristics of the markets served, to arrive at a strategy for achieving the best possible revenue per available seat kilometer, balancing the average fare charged against the corresponding effect on our load factors. For this purpose, we use a sophisticated M.I.T.-developed forecasting, optimization and competitive analysis technology that proposes the optimal fare mix for a given flight based on the historical purchasing behavior of our customers. We do a complete cycle of analysis every working day to keep up-to-date on changes to any of the variables we consider to be factors of yield management. Our revenue management system is similar to that used by other successful low-cost carriers, such as Ryanair and JetBlue.
Competition
      There is currently no other low-cost airline in Brazil offering scheduled air passenger services. As the growth in the Brazilian low-cost, low-fare sector evolves, we may face increased competition from new low-cost, low-fare entrants and from primary competitors that reduce their fares to attract new passengers in some of our markets. We believe that we offer the best value in the Brazilian domestic airline industry and that the emergence of new low-fare entrants would help to further stimulate overall demand for low-fare air travel in Brazil.
      Airlines in Brazil compete primarily on the basis of routes, fare levels, frequency of flights, reliability of services, brand recognition, passenger amenities, such as frequent flyer programs, and customer service. We believe that our low-cost operating model and our low fares enable us to compete favorably in many of these areas. See “—Our Competitive Strengths.”
      Our competitors and potential competitors include Brazil’s major airlines, regional airlines, charter airlines and new entrants, which mainly have regional networks. Our primary competitors are Varig and TAM Linhas Aéreas S.A., or TAM, each of which is a full-service carrier offering flights on domestic routes and international routes. In February 2003, Varig and TAM began discussions to merge their operations and started operating under a code-sharing agreement. The two companies, however, no longer plan to merge and in January 2005, they entered into an agreement with the Brazilian antitrust agency Conselho Administrativo de Defesa Econômica (or CADE) to end the code-sharing arrangements by mid-May 2005. Varig has significant levels of indebtedness, and its financial condition and prospects remain uncertain. In the past, the Brazilian government, Varig’s biggest creditor, has allowed certain airline companies to restructure their government-related debt.
      Prior to 2004, Viação Aérea São Paulo-VASP, or VASP, one of Brazil’s legacy carriers, was a primary competitor. However, in light of continued financial difficulties, VASP substantially reduced its operations in 2004, accounting for less than 1% of the domestic market share in December 2004. In January 2005, the DAC terminated the last remaining VASP flights.
      When we enter a new market, our primary competitors often reduce fares using capacity controls, such as limitations on the number of seats available in varying discount ranges, the use of minimum stay-over requirements and other restrictions to limit yield erosion. Our primary competitors have also used their customer loyalty plans as a competitive tool to limit the loss of their higher yield market share. We believe that the majority of our passengers are price sensitive, preferring low fares to paying for extras such as mileage programs.

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      The following table sets forth the historical market shares on domestic routes, based on revenue passenger kilometers, of the significant airlines in Brazil for each of the periods indicated:
                                         
Domestic Market Share— Scheduled Airlines   2000   2001   2002   2003   2004
                     
Gol(1)
          4.7 %     11.8 %     19.4 %     22.3 %
TAM(2)(3)
    29.2 %     33.1 %     34.9 %     33.1 %     35.8 %
Varig Group(3)(4)
    39.8 %     39.8 %     39.3 %     33.7 %     31.1 %
VASP
    15.4 %     13.8 %     12.6 %     12.2 %     8.8 %
Transbrasil(5)
    13.7 %     6.9 %                  
Others
    2.2 %     1.9 %     1.4 %     1.8 %     2.0 %
 
Source:  DAC— Annual Air Transportation Report (Anuário do Transporte Aéreo)— Statistical Data— 2001, 2002, 2003 and 2004 data extracted from DAC— Economic Data
(1)  Began operations in January 2001.
(2)  Includes TAM Regionais and TAM Meridionais for the period prior to December 2000.
(3)  In 2003, Varig and TAM established a code-sharing arrangement, which is expected to end by mid-May of 2005.
(4)  Varig Group— includes Varig, Rio Sul and Nordeste.
(5)  Ceased operations in December 2001.
     We also face competition from ground transportation alternatives, primarily interstate bus companies. In 2003, interstate bus companies transported over 132 million passengers, according to the Brazilian Department of Highways (Departamento de Transportes de Rodoviários), and given the absence of meaningful passenger rail services in Brazil, travel by bus has traditionally been the only low-cost option for long-distance travel for a significant portion of Brazil’s population. We believe that our low-cost business model and strong capitalization has given us flexibility in setting our fares to stimulate demand for air travel among passengers who in the past have traveled long distances primarily by bus. In particular, the highly competitive fares we have offered for travel on our night flights, which have often been comparable to bus fares for the same destinations, have had the effect of providing direct competition for interstate bus companies on these routes. For example, at the end of 2004, we offered night flights between São Paulo and Porto Alegre, with a 1.5 hour flight duration, for an average fare of R$149. In comparison, interstate bus companies charged their passengers an average fare of R$119 for an 18.5 hour journey between the same city pair. We believe that operating night flights presents an excellent opportunity to increase our overall load factor.
      As we commence offering international services, our pool of competitors will increase and we will face competition from airlines that are already established in the international market and that participate in strategic alliances and code sharing arrangements.
Intellectual Property, Patents and Trademarks
      We believe that the Gol brand has become synonymous with innovation and value in the Brazilian airline industry. We have filed requests for registration of the trademarks “GOL” and “GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES” with trademark offices in Brazil and in other countries, such as Chile, Argentina and the United States. A challenge has been filed in Brazil against the registration by us of the “GOL” trademark. See “—Legal Matters and Administrative Proceedings—Trademark.”
People
      We believe that our growth potential and the achievement of our results-oriented corporate goals are directly linked to our ability to attract and maintain the best professionals available in the airline business. We place great emphasis on the selection and training of enthusiastic employees with potential to add value to our business and who we believe fit in with and contribute to our business culture.
      As of December 31, 2004, we had 3,307 active employees, compared to 2,453, 2,072 and 1,134 active employees as of December 31, 2003, 2002 and 2001, respectively. As of December 31, 2004, we employed only full-time employees, which consisted of 413 pilots, 764 flight attendants, 505 mechanics, 15 customer service representatives (including sales and marketing personnel and reservation agents), 1,395 airport and flight

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operations personnel and 215 management and administrative personnel. We also subcontract certain services, such as cargo, information technology, call center personnel and runway handling operations personnel.
      We invest significant resources promoting the well being of our employees. In 2004, we allocated approximately 3.8% of our net income to health and safety matters, training, social contributions, employee meals and transportation, and profit sharing.
      We provide extensive training for our pilots, flight attendants and customer service representatives. In addition to the required technical training, which follows the strictest international standards, we also provide comprehensive managerial training to our pilots and flight attendants through Crew Resource Management and Line Oriented Flight Training programs, emphasizing the importance of resource management to provide the best service to our passengers.
      In order to help retain our employees, we encourage open communication channels between our employees and management and offer career development opportunities in the company and periodic evaluations. We offer in-house post-graduate business school training in conjunction with the Fundação Getúlio Vargas, a leading Brazilian business school, to provide management training to selected employees. Our compensation strategy reinforces our determination to retain talented and highly motivated employees and is designed to align the interests of our employees with our shareholders. Our compensation packages include competitive salaries and participation in our profit sharing program. We have agreements with medical and insurance companies to offer affordable health and pension plan options to our employees.
      A national aviators’ union represents Brazil’s pilots and flight attendants, and five other regional aviation unions represent ground employees of air transportation companies. Approximately 6% of our employees are members of unions. Negotiations in respect of cost of living wage and salary increases are conducted annually between the workers’ unions and a national association of airline companies. There is no salary differential or seniority pay escalation among our pilots. Work conditions and maximum work hours are regulated by government legislation and are not the subject of labor negotiations. Since the commencement of our operations, we have not had a work stoppage by our employees and we believe that our relationship with our employees is good.
      To motivate our employees and align their interests with our results of operations, we provide an annual profit sharing program to all of our employees. Under Brazilian law, companies may provide profit sharing programs that define mechanisms for distributing a portion of a company’s profits based upon the achievement of pre-defined targets established by the company. Our annual profit sharing programs are negotiated with a commission formed by our employees and approved by labor unions for the benefit of all of our unionized and non-unionized employees. For the purposes of our profit sharing program, a portion of profit sharing distributions are based upon the achievement of corporate profit targets and a portion of the distributions are based on the achievement of operational targets set for each of our departments. Based on the achievement of our annual profit targets, we made a profit sharing payment equivalent to 17% of one month’s salary, 3.7 months’ salary and over four months’ salary to each of our employees in 2002, 2003 and 2004, respectively. We have established a stock option plan pursuant to which 18 of our management employees have received stock option grants vesting over a five-year period.

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Aircraft
      We operate a fleet of 29 aircraft comprised of 20 Boeing 737-700 Next Generation aircraft, four Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft and five Boeing 737-300 aircraft. We expect to operate approximately 75 aircraft by the end of 2010, concentrating our fleet on the 737-800 Next Generation aircraft. The composition of our fleet as of December 31, 2004 is more fully described below:
                                         
    Number of            
    Aircraft   Average Term        
        of Lease        
        Operating   Remaining   Average Age   Seating
    Total   Lease   (Years)   (Years)   Capacity
                     
Boeing 737-800
    4       4       3.8       2.6       177  
Boeing 737-700
    18       18       3.5       5.2       144  
Boeing 737-300
    5       5       1.7       16.6       141  
      Each aircraft in our fleet is powered by two CFM International Model CFM 56-7B22 engines or two CFM International Model CFM 56-7B24 engines and operates in a comfortable single-class layout. The average age of our aircraft is 6.8 years, making ours the youngest fleet in Brazil and one of the newest fleets in the world.
      We have placed firm purchase orders with The Boeing Company for 30 737-800 Next Generation aircraft and we have options to purchase an additional 33 737-800 Next Generation aircraft. Currently, six firm order aircraft are to be delivered in 2006, thirteen in 2007, seven in 2008 and four in 2009. We expect to take delivery of four Boeing 737-800, three Boeing 737-700 and two Boeing 737-300 aircraft during the first half of 2005, and two Boeing 737-800, one Boeing 737-700 and one Boeing 737-300 aircraft during the second half of 2005, all under operating leases. To help meet short-term capacity needs while we await delivery of the new Boeing 737-800/700 Next Generation aircraft, we accepted delivery of three Boeing 737-300 aircraft in the second half of 2004, all under two- and three-year operating leases.
      The following table shows the historical and expected development of our fleet from December 31, 2004 to December 31, 2010:
                                                         
    2004   2005   2006   2007   2008   2009   2010
                             
737-800
    4       10       18       29       40       48       55  
737-700
    18       22       22       22       22       22       22  
737-300
    5       8       6       3       0       0       0  
                                           
Total fleet
    27       40       46       54       62       70       77  
                                           
      Our new and simplified fleet structure allows us to maintain a cost-efficient operation by reducing maintenance and training costs, reducing spare parts inventory requirements and supporting high reliability and high aircraft utilization rates. The average daily utilization rate of our aircraft during our first four years of operations has been 11.4 block hours (including 13.6 block hours in 2004), the highest average utilization rate in Brazil and one of the highest utilization rates in the industry worldwide according to airline company public filings.
      The Boeing 737-700 and Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft currently comprising our fleet are fuel-efficient and very reliable. They suit our cost efficient operations well for the following reasons:
  they have comparatively simplified maintenance routines;
 
  they require just one type of standardized training for our crews;
 
  they use an average of 7% less fuel than other aircraft of comparable size, according to Boeing; and
 
  they have one of the lowest operating costs in their class.

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      In addition to being cost-efficient, the Boeing 737-700/800 Next Generation aircraft are equipped with advanced technology that promotes flight stability, providing a more comfortable flying experience for our customers. Our focus on having low operating costs means that we will periodically review our fleet composition. As a result, our fleet composition may change over time if we conclude that adding other aircraft types would contribute to this goal. However, our approach to our fleet composition is based upon having a minimal number of different aircraft types to preserve the simplicity of our operations. As a result, the introduction of any new aircraft type to our fleet will only be done if, after careful consideration, we determine that such a step will reduce our operating costs.
      We currently lease all of our aircraft under long-term operating lease agreements that have an average remaining term of 45 months. Leasing our aircraft provides us with greater flexibility to change our fleet composition if we consider it to be in our best interests to do so. We make monthly rental payments, some of which are based on floating rates, but are not required to make termination payments at the end of our leases. Under our operating lease agreements, we do not have purchase options and we are required to maintain maintenance reserve accounts and to return the aircraft in the agreed condition at the end of the lease term. Title to the aircraft remains with the lessor. We are responsible for the maintenance, servicing, insurance, repair and overhaul of the aircraft during the term of the lease. As of December 31, 2004, our operating leases had terms of up to 84 months from the date of delivery of the relevant aircraft. Currently, five of our aircraft leases expire in 2006, three in 2007, nine in 2008, eight in 2009 and two in 2010.
Maintenance
      The maintenance performed on our aircraft can be divided into two general categories: line and heavy maintenance. Line maintenance consists of routine, scheduled maintenance checks on our aircraft, including pre-flight, daily and overnight checks and any diagnostics and routine repairs. All of our line maintenance is performed by our own highly experienced technicians at our bases in São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Porto Alegre, Curitiba, Florianópolis, Brasília, Salvador, Campinas, Vitória, Navegantes, Maringa, Recife and Londrina. We believe that our practice of performing daily preventative maintenance helps to maintain a higher aircraft utilization rate and reduces maintenance costs. Heavy maintenance consists of more complex inspections and servicing of the aircraft that cannot be accomplished overnight. Heavy maintenance checks are performed following a pre-scheduled agenda of major overhauls defined by the aircraft’s manual, based on the number of flights flown by the aircraft. Our continued high aircraft utilization rate will result in shorter periods of time between heavy maintenance checks for our aircraft in comparison to carriers with lower aircraft utilization rates. We do not believe that our high aircraft utilization rate will necessarily result in the need to make more frequent repairs to our aircraft, given the durability of the aircraft type in our fleet. We currently contract with certified outside maintenance providers for heavy maintenance and aircraft engine maintenance services with Varig Engenharia de Manutenção, or VEM, Snecma Services, Delta Air Lines Inc. and Lufthansa Technik AG at facilities in Brazil and in the United States. To date, we have relied only on our contract with VEM for these services.
      We intend to internalize the heavy maintenance currently performed on our aircraft by independent third party contractors. On January 12, 2005, with the approval of INFRAERO, the state-controlled corporation in charge of managing and controlling federal airports, we signed a letter of intent with the government of the state of Minas Gerais to construct a new maintenance facility at Tancredo Neves International Airport, located in the city of Confins in Minas Gerais. We will use the new facility for airframe heavy checks, line maintenance, aircraft painting and aircraft interior refurbishment. We expect the new facility to be operational by mid-2006. We believe that the construction of the new maintenance facility at Tancredo Neves International Airport will accommodate our recent fleet expansion, centralize our aircraft maintenance operations, provide cost savings and better enable us to determine the timing of the heavy maintenance so as to continue to maximize our aircraft utilization. We have also been certified by the DAC under the Brazilian Aeronautical Certification Regulations to perform heavy maintenance services for third parties. We intend to offer these services on competitive terms shortly after the completion of the new maintenance facility.
      We employ 505 maintenance professionals, including engineers, supervisors, technicians and mechanics, who perform maintenance in accordance with maintenance plans that are established by Boeing and approved and certified by Brazilian and international aviation authorities. Our aircraft are covered by warranties that

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have an average term of seven years and that begin expiring in 2007, resulting in lower maintenance expenses during the period of coverage.
Facilities
      We have renewable concessions with terms varying from one to five years from INFRAERO to use and operate all of our facilities at each of the major airports that we serve. Our concession agreements for our terminals’ passenger service facilities, which include check-in counters and ticket offices, operations support area and baggage service offices, contain provisions for periodic adjustments of the lease rates and the extension of the concession term.
      INFRAERO has announced its intention to invest approximately R$5 billion in the Brazilian airport system within the next five years. Among the projects underway is an investment of approximately R$87 million to modernize the passenger terminal and expand parking capacity at Congonhas airport in São Paulo, an approximately R$875 million investment in Guarulhos airport in São Paulo to construct two new arrival terminals and an additional runway, and an approximately R$230 million investment in Santos Dumont airport in Rio de Janeiro to construct a new arrival terminal. The airport upgrade plan does not require contributions or investments by the Brazilian airlines and is not expected to be accompanied by increases in landing fees or passenger taxes on air travel.
      Our primary corporate offices are located in two buildings in São Paulo. We lease space at one of the facilities under a lease agreement with our controlling shareholder that expires in 2008. Our commercial, operations, technology, finance and administrative staff is based primarily at our headquarters. We have concessions to use other airport buildings and hangars throughout Brazil, including a part of a hangar at Congonhas airport where we perform aircraft maintenance. We also intend to construct a new maintenance facility at Tancredo Neves International Airport in the State of Minas Gerais that will enable us to internalize the heavy maintenance performed on our aircraft.
Fuel
      Our fuel costs totaled R$459.2 million in 2004, representing 33% of our operating expenses for the year. In 2004, we consumed 317.4 million liters of fuel. We purchase substantially all of our fuel from Petrobras Distribuidora S.A., a retail subsidiary of Petrobras, principally under an into-plane contract under which the supplier supplies fuel and also fills our aircraft tanks. Fuel prices under our contracts are re-set every 15 days and are composed of a variable and a fixed component. The variable component is defined by the refinery and follows international crude oil price fluctuations and the real/ U.S. dollar exchange rate. The fixed component is a spread charged by the supplier and is usually a fixed cost per liter during the term of the contract. We currently operate a tankering program under which we fill the fuel tanks of our aircraft in regions where fuel prices are lower. We also provide our pilots with training in fuel management techniques, such as carefully selecting flight attitudes to optimize fuel efficiency.
      In July 2001, the Brazilian federal government eliminated fuel subsidies, causing a 30% increase in the price of fuel consumed domestically. Fuel costs are extremely volatile, as they are subject to many global economic and geopolitical factors that we can neither control nor accurately predict. Because international prices for jet fuel are denominated in U.S. dollars, our fuel costs, though payable in reais, are subject not only to price fluctuations but also to exchange rate fluctuations. In September 2003, we implemented a fuel and foreign exchange hedging program, based upon best practices employed by other successful low-cost carriers, under which we enter into fuel and currency hedging agreements with various counterparties providing for price protection in connection with the purchase of fuel. Our hedging practices cover short-term periods, and are adjusted weekly or more frequently as conditions require. Our hedging practices are overseen by a risk management committee at the operating level and a hedging policy committee at the board of directors level. The risk management committee meets on a weekly basis to analyze price movements in the fuel and foreign exchange markets, review the impact of such changes on our revenues and expenses and determine our hedge ratio. We use risk management instruments that have a high correlation with the underlying assets so as to reduce our exposure. We require that all of our risk management instruments be liquid so as to allow us to

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make position adjustments and have prices that are widely disclosed. We also avoid concentration of credit and product risk. The hedging policy committee of our board of directors meets quarterly to assess the effectiveness of our hedging policies and recommends amendments where appropriate. We have not otherwise entered into arrangements to guarantee our supply of fuel and we cannot provide assurance that our hedging program is sufficient to protect us against significant increases in the price of fuel. As of February 28, 2005, we had hedged approximately 80% and 100% of our projected fuel requirements and our U.S. dollar foreign exchange rate exposure, respectively, for the next 90 days.
      The following chart summarizes our fuel consumption and costs for the periods indicated:
                                 
    Year Ended December 31,
     
    2001   2002   2003   2004
                 
Liters consumed (in thousands)
    77,850       164,008       264,402       317,444  
Total cost (in thousands)
  R$ 45,769     R$ 160,537     R$ 308,244     R$ 459,192  
Percent of operating expenses
    20.0%       26.1%       29.1%       33.2%  
Insurance
      We maintain passenger liability insurance in an amount consistent with industry practice and we insure our aircraft against losses and damages on an “all risks” basis. We are required by the DAC to maintain insurance coverage for general liability against terrorist acts or acts of war with a minimum amount of US$600 million. We are in compliance with this requirement. We have obtained all insurance coverage required by the terms of our leasing agreements. We believe our insurance coverage is consistent with airline industry standards in Brazil and is appropriate to protect us from material loss in light of the activities we conduct. No assurance can be given, however, that the amount of insurance we carry will be sufficient to protect us from material loss.
      In response to the substantial increases of insurance premiums for coverage for damages resulting from terrorist attacks to aircraft after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, the Brazilian government enacted Law No. 10,309 on November 22, 2001, generally authorizing the Brazilian government to undertake liabilities for damages caused to third parties as a result of terrorist attacks or acts of war against aircraft of Brazilian airlines. According to Law No. 10,744 of October 9, 2003, this undertaking by the federal government is currently limited to cover damages caused to third parties resulting from terrorist attacks and acts of war to Brazilian aircraft up to US$1 billion. Decree No. 5,035 of April 5, 2004, which regulates the provisions of Law No. 10,744, provides that the Brazilian government may, at its sole discretion, suspend this coverage at any time, effective within seven days after the announcement by the Brazilian government of its decision to do so.
Legal Matters and Administrative Proceedings
      In the ordinary course of our business, we are party to various legal actions, which we believe are incidental to the operation of our business. We believe that the outcome of the proceedings to which we are currently a party will not have a material adverse effect on our financial position, results of operations and cash flows. As of December 31, 2004, we had R$10.4 million of provisions for these legal actions.
Trademark
      The German carmaker Volkswagen’s Brazilian subsidiary, Volkswagen do Brasil Ltda., has challenged certain of our trademark applications filed with the Instituto Nacional de Propriedade Industrial, the Brazilian authority responsible for the registration of trademarks and patents, on the grounds that Volkswagen has previously registered the trademark “GOL” under the automobiles and autoparts class of products and services. We believe that there are no legal grounds for the challenges by Volkswagen because we are seeking registration of the trademark in a different class of products and services. We are defending ourselves vigorously against the challenges and we do not believe that they will prevent us from obtaining registration of our trademarks.

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ICMS
      We are currently challenging the levy of Brazil’s state value-added tax on merchandise, electricity, telecommunication and transport services (the Imposto sobre Circulação de Mercadorias e Serviços, or ICMS) on the import of our leased aircraft and engines. We believe, based on an analysis of the applicable laws and court precedents by our counsel, that the ICMS does not apply to the import of aircraft and engines under operating lease transactions, such as ours. We have received injunctive relief from Brazilian courts and we have filed defenses in administrative proceedings that had the effect of suspending the application of ICMS on the imports of our aircraft and engines under operating leases. We are not accruing and paying ICMS import taxes on our leased aircraft and engines and we have not made any provision in respect of the matter, as we believe that we are not legally liable for the payment of ICMS on imports of our aircraft and engines under operating leases.
Social Responsibility and Cultural Sponsorship
      We develop our business based on original, creative and ethical decisions that produce high-quality services and low fares for our customers. Our values are based upon growth, respect, and incentives for teamwork for our employees, and the fulfillment of our social and environmental obligations. We are committed to being a good corporate citizen in Brazil by participating in projects dedicated to improving the education, health and nutrition of the underprivileged portion of Brazil’s population, particularly children. We are the largest individual sponsor of Pastoral da Criança, a non-governmental organization that has assisted in the health and education needs of more than 1.8 million children in Brazil from infancy to age six. In addition, we also support other non-governmental organizations, such as Fundação Gol de Letra, a foundation dedicated to educating underprivileged children and teenagers; Projeto Felicidade, a project that provides assistance to children with cancer; and Projeto Solidariedade ao Nordeste, a project that provides food donations to poor families in the northeastern region of Brazil. We also sponsor numerous cultural activities, such as theater plays and dance shows, to help promote travel and tourism in Brazil. In addition to making a difference for those in need, we also believe that our social responsibility and cultural sponsorship initiatives benefit us by enhancing our corporate image and promoting awareness of our brand.

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REGULATION OF THE BRAZILIAN CIVIL AVIATION MARKET
The Brazilian Aviation Authorities and Regulation Overview
      Air transportation services are considered a public service and are subject to extensive regulation and monitoring by the High Command of Aeronautics of the Ministry of Defense (Comando da Aeronáutica), the CONAC and the DAC. Air transportation services are also regulated by the Brazilian Federal Constitution and the Brazilian Aeronautical Code.
      In light of the troubled financial situation of several carriers operating in Brazil’s domestic airline industry, the Brazilian civil aviation authorities have introduced measures and applied policies designed to reestablish the health of Brazil’s domestic airline industry. A principal element of this objective has been to proactively manage the balance between market supply and demand by, for example, only granting approvals to carriers to operate new routes, increase flight frequencies or lease or acquire additional aircraft upon demonstration by carriers of satisfactory levels of demand and profitability. These measures contributed towards increased health for the Brazilian domestic airline industry in 2004.
      The Brazilian Aeronautical Code provides for the main rules and regulations relating to airport infrastructure and operation, flight safety and protection, airline certification, lease structuring, burdening, disposal, registration and licensing of aircraft; crew training; concessions, inspection and control of airlines; public and private air carrier services, civil liability of airlines, and penalties in case of infringements.
      The CONAC is an advisory body of the President of Brazil and its upper level advisory board is composed of the Minister of Defense, the Minister Chief of the Civil Cabinet, the Minister of Treasury, the Minister of Development, Industry and International Trade and the Commandant of Aeronautics. The CONAC has the authority to establish national civil aviation policies that may be adopted and enforced by the High Command of Aeronautics and by the DAC. The CONAC establishes guidelines relating to the proper representation of Brazil in conventions, treaties and other actions related to international air transportation, airport infrastructure, the granting of supplemental funds to be used for the benefit of airlines and airports based on strategic, economic or tourism-related aspects, the coordination of civil aviation, air safety, the granting of air routes and concessions, as well as permission for the provision of commercial air transportation services.
      The DAC is currently Brazil’s highest civil aviation authority and reports directly to the High Command of Aeronautics. The DAC is responsible for guiding, planning, stimulating and supporting the activities of public and private civil aviation companies in Brazil. The DAC regulates flying operations generally and economic issues affecting air transportation, including matters relating to air safety, certification and fitness, insurance, consumer protection and competitive practices.
      The Brazilian government recognized and ratified, and must comply with, the Warsaw Convention of 1929, the Chicago Convention of 1944, and the Geneva Convention of 1948, the three leading international conventions relating to worldwide commercial air transportation activities.
Concession for Air Transportation Services
      According to the Brazilian Federal Constitution, the Brazilian government is responsible for public services related to airspace as well as airport infrastructure, and may provide these services directly or through third parties under concessions or permissions. According to the Brazilian Aeronautical Code and regulations issued by the High Command of Aeronautics, the application for a concession to operate regular air transportation services is subject to the DAC having granted to the applicant a license to operate an airline, which must be then confirmed by the High Command of Aeronautics. The applicant is required by the DAC to have met certain economic, financial, technical, operational and administrative requirements in order to be granted such license. Additionally, a concession applicant must be an entity incorporated in Brazil, duly registered with the Brazilian Aeronautical Registry (Registro Aeronáutico Brasileiro, or RAB), must have a valid CHETA and must also comply with certain ownership restrictions. See “—Restrictions to the Ownership of Shares Issued by Concessionaires of Air Transportation Services.” The DAC has the authority

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to revoke a concession for failure by the airline to comply with the terms of the Brazilian Aeronautical Code, the complementary laws and regulations and the terms of the concession agreement.
      Our concession was granted on January 2, 2001 by the High Command of Aeronautics of the Ministry of Defense. Our concession agreement has a 15-year term and is renewable at its expiration for a further 15-year term upon six months’ prior written notice. The concession agreement can be terminated if, among other things, we fail to meet specfied service levels, cease operations or declare bankruptcy.
      Article 122 of Law No. 8,666 of June 21, 1993, provides that airline concessions are to be regulated by specific procedures set forth in the Brazilian Aeronautical Code. The Brazilian Aeronautical Code and the regulations issued by the High Command of Aeronautics do not expressly provide for public bidding processes and currently it is not necessary to conduct public bidding processes prior to the granting of concessions for the operation of air transportation services.
Import of Aircraft into Brazil
      The import of civil or commercial aircraft into Brazil is subject to prior authorization by the COTAC, which is a sub-department of the DAC. Such import authorizations usually follow the general procedures for import of goods into Brazil, after which the importer must request the registration of the aircraft with the RAB.
Registration of Aircraft
      The registration of aircraft in Brazil is governed by the Brazilian Aeronautical Code. Under the Brazilian Aeronautical Code, no aircraft is allowed to fly in Brazilian airspace, or land in or take off from Brazilian territory, without having been properly registered. In order to be registered and continue to be registered in Brazil, an aircraft must have a certificate of registration (certificado de matrícula) and a certificate of airworthiness (certificado de aeronavegabilidade), both of which are issued by the RAB after technical inspection of the aircraft by the DAC. A certificate of registration attributes Brazilian nationality to the aircraft and is evidence of its enrollment with the competent aviation authority. A certificate of airworthiness is generally valid for six years from the date of the DAC’s inspection and authorizes the aircraft to fly in Brazilian airspace, subject to continuing compliance with certain technical requirements and conditions. The registration of any aircraft may be cancelled if it is found that the aircraft is not in compliance with the requirements for registration and, in particular, if the aircraft has failed to comply with any applicable safety requirements specified by the DAC or the Brazilian Aeronautical Code.
      All information relating to the contractual status of an aircraft, including purchase and sale agreements, operating leases and mortgages, must be filed with the RAB in order to provide the public with an updated record of any amendments made to the aircraft certificate of registration.
Route Rights
      Domestic routes. The DAC has the authority to grant Brazilian airlines the right to operate new routes, subject to the airline having filed studies satisfactory to the DAC demonstrating the technical and financial viability of such routes and fulfilling certain conditions in respect of the concession for such routes. For the granting of new routes and changes to existing ones, the DAC evaluates the actual capacity of the airport infrastructure from where such route is or would be operated, as well as the increase in demand and competition among airlines. In addition, route frequencies are granted subject to the condition that they are operated on a frequent basis. Any airline’s route frequency rights may be terminated if the airline (a) fails to begin operation of a given route for a period exceeding 15 days, (b) fails to maintain at least 75% of flights provided for in its air transportation schedule (Horário de Transporte Aéreo, or HOTRAN) for any 90-day period or (c) suspends its operation for a period exceeding 30 days. The DAC approval of new routes or changes to existing routes is given in the course of an administrative procedure and requires no changes to existing concession agreements.

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      Once routes are granted, they must be immediately reflected in the HOTRAN, which is the official schedule report of all routes that an airline can operate. The HOTRAN provides not only for the routes but also the times of arrival at and departure from certain airports, none of which may be changed without the prior consent of the DAC. According to Brazilian laws and regulations, an airline cannot sell, assign or transfer its routes to another airline.
      International routes. In general, requests for new international routes, or changes to existing ones, must be filed by each interested Brazilian airline that has been previously qualified by the DAC to provide international services, with the CERNAI, which decides upon each request based on the provisions of the applicable bilateral agreement and general policies of the Brazilian aviation authorities. International route rights for major city pairs, as well as the corresponding landing rights, derive from bilateral air transport agreements negotiated between Brazil and foreign governments. Under such agreements, each government grants to the other the right to designate one or more of its domestic airlines to operate scheduled service between certain destinations in each country. Airlines are only entitled to apply for new international routes when they are made available under these agreements. We have applied to the CERNAI for approval of routes between São Paulo (Guarulhos International Airport) and Montevideo, Uruguay and Asunción, Paraguay. We expect a decision from the CERNAI in respect of the application during the second half of 2005.
Slots Policy
      Under Brazilian law, a slot is a concession of the DAC, which is reflected in the airline’s HOTRAN. A slot, like a route, may not be transferred by one airline to another. Each HOTRAN represents the authorization for an airline to depart from and arrive at specific airports within a predetermined timeframe. Such period of time is known as an “airport slot” and provides that an airline can operate at the specific airport at the times established in the HOTRAN. The most congested Brazilian airports are subject to traffic restrictions through time slot policies. An airline must request an additional slot from the DAC upon a minimum of two months’ prior notice.
      On October 5, 2001, the Department of Control of the Air Space (Departamento de Controle do Espaço Aéreo), or DECEA, was created with the main purpose of coordinating and inspecting the infrastructure support of airports and the safety of aircraft operations. The DECEA also performs studies in all Brazilian airports to determine the maximum capacity of the operations of each airport. There are five airports in Brazil that have slot restrictions: Congonhas and Guarulhos (both of which serve São Paulo), Santos Dumont in Rio de Janeiro, Pampulha in Belo Horizonte and Juscelino Kubitschek in Brasília. Since the slots of all congested airports slots are fully utilized, the DAC is unable to grant the right to new slots to airlines to operate in these airports. Ongoing investment in the Brazilian aviation infrastructure should permit the increase of aircraft operations in these congested airports and consequently the concession of rights to new slots to airlines.
Airport Infrastructure
      INFRAERO, a state-controlled corporation reporting to the High Command of Aeronautics, is in charge of managing, operating and controlling federal airports, including control towers and airport safety operations. Smaller, regional airports may belong to states or municipalities within Brazil and, in such cases, are often managed by local governmental entities. At most Brazilian airports, INFRAERO performs safety and security activities, including passenger and baggage screening, cargo security measures and airport security.
      The use of areas within federal airports, such as hangars and check-in booths, is subject to a concession by INFRAERO. If there is more than one applicant for the use of a specific airport area, INFRAERO may conduct a public bidding process for the granting of the concession.
      We have renewable concessions with terms varying from one to five years from INFRAERO to use and operate all of our facilities at each of the major airports that we serve. Our concession agreements for our terminals’ passenger service facilities, which include check-in counters and ticket offices, operations support area and baggage service offices, contain provisions for periodic adjustments of the lease rates and the extension of the concession term.

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      INFRAERO has announced its intention to invest approximately R$5 billion in the Brazilian airport system within the next five years. Among the projects underway is an investment of approximately R$87 million to modernize the passenger terminal and expand parking capacity at Congonhas airport in São Paulo, an approximately R$875 million investment in Guarulhos airport in São Paulo to construct two new arrival terminals and an additional runway, and an approximately R$230 million investment in Santos Dumont airport in Rio de Janeiro to construct a new arrival terminal. The airport upgrade plan does not require contributions or investments by the Brazilian airlines and is not expected to be accompanied by increases in landing fees or passenger taxes on air travel.
      The table below sets forth the number of passengers at the ten busiest airports in Brazil during 2004:
         
    Thousands of
    Passengers (Inbound
Airport   and Outbound)
     
São Paulo—Congonhas
    13,611  
São Paulo—Guarulhos
    12,940  
Brasília
    9,927  
Rio de Janeiro—Galeão
    6,025  
Rio de Janeiro—Santos Dumont
    4,887  
Salvador
    4,145  
Porto Alegre
    3,216  
Belo Horizonte—Pampulha
    3,195  
Recife
    3,174  
Curitiba
    2,840  
 
Source: INFRAERO
Pricing
      Brazilian airlines are permitted to establish their own domestic fares without government regulation. However, domestic fares are monitored on a regular basis by the DAC in order to prevent airlines, which are public concessionaires, from operating in a way that is detrimental to their economic viability. Airlines are free to offer price discounts or follow other promotional strategies. Airlines must submit, with a minimum of five days’ advance notice, fares that are set at greater than a 65% discount to the per kilometer reference fares established by the DAC. Such reference fares are based on industry average operating costs.
      International tariffs are set based upon bilateral arrangements. Fares for specific routes are submitted to the DAC for approval.
Civil Liability
      The Brazilian Aeronautical Code and the Warsaw Convention limit the liability of an aircraft operator for damages caused to third parties during its air and ground operations, or resulting from persons or things ejected out of the aircraft. Brazilian courts, however, have occasionally disregarded these limitations by awarding damages purely based on the Brazilian Civil Code and Brazilian Consumer Protection Code, both of which do not expressly provide for limitations on the amount of such awards.
      In response to the substantial increases in insurance premiums for coverage relating to damage resulting from terrorist attacks to aircraft after the September 11, 2001 attacks in the United States, the Brazilian government enacted a law which authorizes the Brazilian government to undertake liability for damages caused to third parties as a result of terrorist attacks or acts of war against aircraft of Brazilian airlines. See “Business—Insurance.”

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Environmental Regulations
      Brazilian airlines are subject to various federal, state and municipal laws and regulations relating to the protection of the environment, including the disposal of materials and chemical substances and aircraft noise. These laws and regulations are enforced by various governmental authorities, each of which may impose administrative sanctions in case of violation, in addition to any eventual criminal or civil liabilities. For example, according to a DAC ordinance, the operation of scheduled commercial flights to and from the Congonhas airport is subject to a noise curfew from 11:00 p.m. to 6:00 a.m. because of its proximity to residential areas in São Paulo. Our scheduled flights to Congonhas airport are in full compliance with the noise curfew limits.
Restrictions on the Ownership of Shares Issued by Concessionaires of Air Transportation Services
      According to the Brazilian Aeronautical Code, in order to be eligible for a concession for operation of regular services, the entity operating the concession must have at least 80% of its voting stock held directly or indirectly by Brazilian citizens and must have certain management positions entrusted to Brazilian citizens. The Brazilian Aeronautical Code also imposes certain restrictions on the transfer of capital stock of concessionaires of air transportation services, such as Gol, including the following:
  the voting shares have to be nominative and non-voting shares cannot be converted into voting shares;
 
  prior approval of the Brazilian aviation authorities is required for any transfer of shares, regardless of the nationality of the investor, which results in the change of the company’s corporate control, causes the assignee to hold more than 10% of the company’s capital stock or represents more than 2% of the company’s capital stock;
 
  the airline must file with the DAC, in the first month of each semester, a detailed stockholding interest chart including a list of shareholders, as well as a list of all share transfers effected in the preceding semester; and
 
  based on its review of the airline’s stock interest chart, the DAC has the authority to subject any further transfer of shares to its prior approval.
      The Registrant holds substantially all of the shares of Gol, which is a public concessionaire of air transportation services in Brazil. Under the Brazilian Aeronautical Code, the restrictions on the transfer of shares described above apply only to companies that hold concessions to provide regular air transportation services. Therefore, the restrictions do not apply to the Registrant.
Pending and Future Legislation
      The Brazilian Congress is currently discussing Bill of Law No. 3,846, of 2000, which provides for the creation of the Brazilian Civil Aviation Agency (Agência Nacional de Aviação Civil, or ANAC), which would replace the DAC as the primary civil aviation authority. According to this bill, the ANAC will be responsible for organizing civil aviation into a coherent system, coordinating and supervising air transportation services, aviation and ground-based infrastructure, and modernizing the Brazilian aviation regulations. The ANAC will be linked, but not subordinated, to the Ministry of Defense and will function as an independent agency administrated only by civilians and reporting directly to the President of Brazil. The ANAC will mainly have the authority to regulate, inspect and supervise services rendered by local and foreign airlines operating in Brazil, granting concessions, permissions and authorizations for operation of air transportation and airport infrastructure services, representing the Brazilian government before international civil aviation organizations, and controlling, registering and inspecting civil aircraft. Under the proposed bill of law, all concessions for air transportation services expiring before December 31, 2010, such those of our primary competitors, would be valid until December 31, 2010. In addition, Bill of Law No. 3846 provides that the Brazilian aviation authorities must conduct public bidding procedures prior to granting new concessions.
      On March 28, 2001, the CONAC published for public comments a draft bill of law aimed at replacing the Brazilian Aeronautical Code and modernizing the underlying laws and regulations. This draft generally

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addresses issues relating to civil aviation, including airport concessions, consumer protection, increase of foreign stock participation in Brazilian airlines, limitation on civil liability by airlines, and mandatory insurance and fines. Additionally, on October 30, 2003, the CONAC submitted to the Ministry of Defense for approval a proposal for new civil aviation public policy guidelines. According to this proposal, the CONAC will issue specific policies for different segments of the international aviation market primarily directed to the granting of routes, and will further analyze differentiated tariffs in order to stimulate air traffic between Brazil and other South American countries. The Ministry of Defense has yet not approved this proposal.

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MANAGEMENT AND CORPORATE GOVERNANCE
      Under our by-laws, we are managed by our Conselho de Administração, or board of directors, which is composed of at least five members and at most 11 members, and a Diretoria, or board of executive officers, which is composed of at least two and at most six members. Our by-laws provide for the establishment of a non-permanent Conselho Fiscal, or fiscal committee, to be comprised of three to five members. We also have corporate governance and nomination, audit, compensation, risk management and cash management committees comprised of members of our board of directors and non-board members, and management, executive policy, budget, investment, corporate governance and risk management committees, comprised of members of our board of executive officers and senior managers.
      We are committed to achieving and maintaining high standards of corporate governance. In working towards this goal, we have established a corporate governance and nomination committee to monitor and make recommendations with respect to corporate governance “best practices” to our board of directors. In addition, in connection with listing as a Level 2 company on the BOVESPA, we have entered into an agreement with the BOVESPA to grant certain additional rights not required of Level 2 companies to our shareholders, such as tag-along rights offering our preferred shareholders 100% of the price paid per common share of controlling block shareholders. We conduct our business with a view towards transparency and the equal treatment of all of our shareholders. We have implemented policies to help to ensure that all material information that our shareholders require to make informed investment decisions is made available to the public promptly and that we at all times accurately reflect the state of our operations and financial position through press releases, filings with the SEC and CVM, and by keeping the investor relations section of our website current and complete. We have also adopted formal policies that restrict trading in our preferred shares by company insiders.
Board of Directors
      Our board of directors is dedicated to providing our overall strategic guidelines and, among other things, is responsible for establishing our general business policies and for electing our executive officers and supervising their management. Currently, our board of directors is comprised of eight members. In 2004, we elected three new members to our board of directors. Each of the new board members qualifies as independent based upon New York Stock Exchange criteria. The board of directors meets every other month or whenever requested by the president, vice-president or three members of our board of directors.
      Under the Brazilian corporation law, each director must hold at least one of our common or preferred shares, may reside outside of Brazil, and is elected by the holders of our common shares at the Assembléia Geral, or the annual general meeting of shareholders. There are no provisions in our by-laws restricting (i) a director’s power to vote on a proposal, arrangement or contract in which such director is materially interested, or (ii) the borrowing powers exercisable by our directors from us. However, under the Brazilian corporation law, a director is prohibited from voting on any matter that would result in such director having a conflict of interest with our company.
      Under the Brazilian corporation law, shareholders of publicly traded companies, such as we are, who together hold non-voting or voting-right restricted preferred shares representing at least 10% of our total share capital for at least three months, are entitled to appoint one member of our board of directors. However, until 2005, the board member to be appointed by such preferred shareholders will be chosen from a list of names provided by our controlling shareholder.
      Under our by-laws, the members of the board of directors are elected by the holders of our common shares at the annual general meeting of shareholders. Members of our board of directors serve the same one-year terms and may be re-elected. The terms of our current directors expire in 2005 and they have each been nominated for re-election at our annual general meeting of shareholders to be held on April 11, 2005. Our by-laws do not provide for a mandatory retirement age for our directors.
      Under the terms of our shareholders’ agreement, five of the members of our board of directors have been appointed by Aeropar Participações S.A. BSSF Air Holdings LLC has the right to elect one member of our

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board of directors under the terms of our shareholders’ agreement as long as BSSF Air Holdings LLC holds 5% or more of our total share capital. None of the current members of our board of directors has been elected by BSSF Air Holdings LLC. Upon the exercise by our minority shareholders of any minority rights set forth under the Brazilian corporation law, BSSF Air Holdings LLC’s right to elect one member of our board of directors will only prevail to the extent that Aeropar Participaçoes S.A. still retains the right to appoint the majority of our board of directors. The shareholders’ agreement will terminate upon the sale in this global offering by BSSF Air Holdings LLC of the 9,179,189 preferred shares that it is offering in this global offering.
      The following table sets forth the name, age and position of each member of our board of directors. A brief biographical description of each member of our board of directors follows the table.
             
Name   Age   Position
         
Constantino de Oliveira
    73     Chairman
Constantino de Oliveira Junior
    36     Director
Henrique Constantino
    33     Director
Joaquim Constantino Neto
    39     Director
Ricardo Constantino
    41     Director
Alvaro de Souza
    56     Director
Antonio Kandir
    51     Director
Luiz Kaufmann
    59     Director
      Constantino de Oliveira is the chairman of our board of directors and has served in this capacity since March 2004. Mr. Oliveira has also been the chairman of the board of directors of Gol since 2002. Mr. Oliveira is founder and president of the Áurea group. He founded his first company, Expresso União, a bus transportation company, in 1957 in the state of Minas Gerais. Mr. Oliveira was the principal architect in our creation.
      Constantino de Oliveira Junior is a member of our board of directors and our Chief Executive Officer. He has served in both capacities since March 2004. Mr. Oliveira has also been the chief executive officer and a member of the board of directors of Gol since 2001. Mr. Oliveira introduced the “low-cost, low-fare” concept to the Brazilian airline industry and was elected the Most Valuable Executive in 2001 and 2002 by the Brazilian newspaper Valor Econômico and was also elected the Leading Executive in the logistics sector in 2003 by the readers of Gazeta Mercantil, a Brazilian financial newspaper. From 1994 to 2000, Mr. Oliveira served as an officer of the Áurea group. Mr. Oliveira studied Business Administration at the Universidade do Distrito Federal and he attended the Executive Program on Corporate Management for Brazil conducted by the Association for Overseas Technical Scholarships.
      Henrique Constantino has been a member of our board of directors since March 2004. Mr. Constantino has also been a member of the board of directors of Gol since 2003. He has been the financial officer of the Áurea group since 1994. He participated in the creation of Gol and served as its financial officer from January 2001 to March 2003, when he became a member of the board. Mr. Constantino has a law degree from CEUB–Centro de Ensino Unificado de Brasília and has a Master in Business Administration degree from EAESP–FGV (Fundação Getúlio Vargas–São Paulo).
      Joaquim Constantino Neto has been a member of our board of directors since March 2004. Mr. Constantino has been a member of the board of directors of Gol since 2001. He has been the operations officer of the Áurea group since 1994. From 1984 to 1990, he was in charge of operations of Reunidas Paulista. Since 1990 to the present, he has been the President of Breda Turismo, a transportation company. Since 1998, Mr. Constantino has also been a member of the board of directors of Metra, a metropolitan bus company serving the cities of São Paulo, Santo André, São Bernardo do Campo and Diadema.
      Ricardo Constantino has been a member of our board of directors since March 2004. Mr. Constantino has been a member of the board of directors of Gol since 2001. He has been the technical and maintenance officer of the Áurea group since 1994. Since 2000, Mr. Constantino is also a member of the board of directors of Mercabenco S.C., a consortium of Mercedes automobile dealers.

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      Alvaro de Souza has been a member of our board of directors since August 2004. Mr. Souza is an officer of AdS– Gestão, Consultoria e Investimentos Ltda. and member of the board of directors of SAG do Brasil S.A., World Wildlife Group (WWF), Comgás, British Gas Group, AMBEV and Roland Berger do Brasil. He was the Chief Executive Officer of Citibank Brasil from 1993 to 1994 and an Executive Vice-President of Citigroup from 1995 to 2003. Mr. Souza holds a bachelor’s degree in Economics and Business Administration from Pontifícia Universidade Católica de São Paulo.
      Antonio Kandir has been a member of our board of directors since August 2004. Mr Kandir is an economic consultant and is a member of the board of directors of AVIPAL/ ELEGÊ and the consulting board of Portugal Telecom. Mr. Kandir served in the Brazilian government as a Congressional Representative for two terms of office, and served as Planning and Budget Minister and Secretary of Economic Policy and President of the Privatization Council. He has a bachelor’s degree in production engineering from the Escola Politécnica at USP and bachelor’s, master’s and PHD degrees in Economics from Unicamp.
      Luiz Kaufmann has been a member of our board of directors since December 2004. Mr Kaufmann has presided over several companies such as Aracruz Celulose S.A. from 1993 to 1998, Vésper, Petropar, Grupo Multiplic, Arthur D. Little, and was a partner at GP Investimentos. He was a member of several companies’ board of directors, including Pioneer Hi-Bred International, América Latina Logística, and Lojas Americanas. Luiz Kaufmann is also Chairman of Fleet One’s board of directors, a member of Medial Saúde’s Board of Directors, and chief executive officer of Primesys Soluções Empresariais S.A. and L. Kaufmann Consultores. He was a member of the Global Corporate Governance Advisory Board, which was comprised of 20 internationally renowned business leaders from 16 different countries, created to advance knowledge on the roles and responsibilities of boards of directors of international companies.
      Constantino de Oliveira Junior, Henrique Constantino, Joaquim Constantino Neto and Ricardo Constantino are brothers and Constantino de Oliveira is their father. Constantino de Oliveira Junior, Henrique Constantino, Joaquim Constantino Neto and Ricardo Constantino control Aeropar Participações S.A. and Comporte Participações S.A. on an equal basis.
Executive Officers
      Our executive officers have significant experience in the domestic and international passenger transportation industries, and we have been able to draw upon this extensive experience to develop our low-cost operating structure. The executive officers are responsible for our day-to-day management. The executive officers have individual responsibilities established in our by-laws and by our board of directors. The business address of each of our executive officers is the address of our principal executive offices.
      Under our by-laws, we must have at least two and at most five executive officers that are elected by the board of directors for a one-year term. Any executive officer may be removed by the board of directors before the expiration of his term. The current term of all our executive officers ends in March 2006.
      The following table sets forth the name, age and position of each of our executive officers elected in March 2004. A brief biographical description of each of our executive officers follows the table.
             
Name   Age   Position
         
Constantino de Oliveira Junior
    36     President and Chief Executive Officer
David Barioni Neto
    46     Vice President-Technical
Richard F. Lark, Jr. 
    38     Vice President-Finance, Chief Financial Officer and Investor Relations Officer
Tarcisio Geraldo Gargioni
    58     Vice President-Marketing and Services
Wilson Maciel Ramos
    58     Vice President-Planning and Information Technology
      Constantino de Oliveira Junior. See “Management—Board of Directors.”
      David Barioni Neto has been an officer since May 2004. Mr. Barioni has been an officer of Gol since 2001. Mr. Barioni has been an aircraft pilot for 25 years and worked as an aircraft pilot for VASP from 1982 to

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2000. Mr. Barioni is a civil aviation inspector, flight instructor and aeronautical accident investigator. He also specializes in restricted and dangerous cargo.
      Richard F. Lark, Jr. has been an officer since May 2004. Mr. Lark has been an officer of Gol since 2003. From 2000 to 2003, Mr. Lark was a founding director and served as Chief Financial Officer of Americanas.com, one of the leading Brazilian e-commerce companies. Prior to joining Americanas.com, Mr. Lark was a Vice President in the investment banking division of Morgan Stanley, where he was responsible for the Brazilian transportation sector. Mr. Lark holds a Master in Business Administration degree from the Anderson School at The University of California at Los Angeles (UCLA) and bachelor degrees in philosophy and finance and business economics from The University of Notre Dame. Mr. Lark is a DAC-certified private pilot.
      Tarcisio Geraldo Gargioni has been an officer since May 2004. Mr. Gargioni has been an officer of Gol since 2001. From 1990 to 2000, Mr. Gargioni served as Commercial Director of VASP. Mr. Gargioni received a degree in Business Administration and a post-graduate degree in transport engineering from COOPEAD/RJ, Brazil. Mr. Gargioni received a certificate in marketing from Fundação Getúlio Vargas–São Paulo.
      Wilson Maciel Ramos has been an officer since March 2004. Mr. Ramos has been an officer of Gol since 2001. From 1999 to 2000, Mr. Ramos was an independent consultant for urban transportation companies. From 1997 to 1999, Mr. Ramos was the President of Transurb, a syndicate of urban transportation companies in São Paulo. From 1993 to 1997, Mr. Ramos served as Chief Information Officer at VASP. Mr. Ramos received a degree in mechanical engineering from the Universidade do Rio Grande do Sul and a master’s degree in production engineering from the Universidade de Santa Catarina.
Fiscal Committee
      Under the Brazilian corporation law, the Conselho Fiscal, or fiscal committee, is a corporate body independent of management and a company’s external auditors. The fiscal committee may be either permanent or non-permanent, in which case it is appointed by the shareholders to act during a specific fiscal year. A fiscal committee is not equivalent to, or comparable with, a U.S. audit committee. The primary responsibility of the fiscal committee is to review management’s activities and a company’s financial statements, and to report its findings to a company’s shareholders. The Brazilian corporation law requires fiscal committee members to receive as remuneration at least 10% of the average annual amount paid to a company’s executive officers. The Brazilian corporation law requires a fiscal committee to be composed of a minimum of three and a maximum of five members and their respective alternates.
      Under the Brazilian corporation law, our fiscal committee may not contain members that (i) are on our board of directors, (ii) are on the board of executive officers, (iii) are employed by us or a controlled company or a company of the Áurea group, or (iv) are spouses or relatives of any member of our management, up to the third degree. Our by-laws provide for a non-permanent fiscal committee to be elected only by our shareholders’ request at a general shareholders’ meeting. The fiscal committee, when elected, will be comprised of a minimum of three and a maximum of five members and an equal number of alternate members. We currently do not have an active fiscal committee and, therefore, no members have been appointed.
Committees of the Board of Directors and Board of Executive Officers
      Our board of directors also has corporate governance and nomination, audit, compensation and risk policies committees. Our board of executive officers has management, executive policy, budget, investment, corporate governance and risk policies committees. Members of the committees do not need to be members of our board of directors or board of executive officers. The charters of the corporate governance and nomination, audit and compensation committees specify that each committee shall include one member to be appointed by our minority shareholders, as well as one independent member. The responsibilities and composition of these committees are described below.

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      Corporate Governance and Nomination Committee. The corporate governance and nomination committee is responsible for the coordination, implementation and periodic review of “best practices” of corporate governance and for monitoring and keeping our board of directors informed about legislation and market recommendations addressing corporate governance. The committee also proposes individuals to be considered for election to our board of directors. The committee consists of up to five members elected by our board of directors for a one-year term of office. Currently, the corporate governance committee consists of Henrique Constantino and there are two vacancies. We are currently searching for candidates to fill these vacancies.
      Audit Committee. Our audit committee, which is equivalent to a U.S. audit committee, provides assistance to our board of directors in matters involving our accounting, internal controls, financial reporting and compliance. The audit committee recommends the appointment of our independent auditors to our board of directors and reviews the compensation of, and coordinates with, our independent auditors. The audit committee also evaluates the effectiveness of our internal financial and legal compliance controls. The audit committee is comprised of up to three members elected by the board of directors for a one-year term of office. The current members of our audit committee are Álvaro Souza, Antonio Kandir and Luiz Kaufmann. All members of the audit committee satisfy the audit committee membership independence requirements set forth by SEC and the NYSE. Luiz Kaufmann is an audit committee “financial expert” within the meaning of the rules adopted by the SEC relating to the disclosure of financial experts on audit committees in periodic filings pursuant to the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934.
      Compensation Committee. The compensation committee reviews and recommends to our board of directors the forms of compensation, including salary, bonus and stock options, to be paid to our directors and executive officers. The compensation committee also reviews and recommends revisions to the compensation policies applicable to our directors and executive officers and reviews our management’s career and succession plans. The compensation committee is comprised of up to three members elected by our board of directors for a one-year term. The compensation committee currently consists of Henrique Constantino, who is one of our directors, Marco Morales, a human resources consultant from Watson Wyatt, and Marco Antonio Piller, the human resources and quality director of Gol.
      Risk Policies Committee. The risk policies committee conducts periodic reviews of the measures we take to protect the company against foreign exchange, jet fuel price and interest rate changes and analyzes the effect of such changes on our revenues and expenses, cash flow and balance sheet. The risk policies committee assesses the effectiveness of hedging measures taken during the previous quarter and approves recommendations for future changes and also conducts reviews of cash management activities. The risk policies committee meets on a quarterly basis and is comprised of our chief financial officer and two other members of our board of directors, one of whom is appointed by board members elected by our minority shareholders. The risk policies committee currently consists of Richard F. Lark, Jr., our chief financial officer, Henrique Constantino, one of our directors, and Barry Siler, a fuel hedging specialist and the chief executive officer of Kodiak Fuels.
Compensation
      Under our by-laws, our shareholders are responsible for establishing the aggregate amount we pay to the members of our board of directors and our executive officers. Once our shareholders establish an aggregate amount of compensation for our board of directors and executive officers, the members of our board of directors are then responsible for setting individual compensation levels in compliance with our by-laws. The independent members of our board of directors receive fixed annual compensation and additional compensation that is based upon the number of board meetings they attend.
      For the fiscal year ended December 31, 2004, the aggregate compensation, including cash and benefits-in-kind, that we paid to the members of our board of directors and executive officers was approximately R$2.0 million.
Executive Stock Options
      At a shareholders’ meeting held on May 25, 2004, our shareholders approved an executive stock option plan for key senior executive officers. Under this plan, we have issued to executive officers stock options to

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purchase up to 937,412 of our preferred shares at an exercise price of R$3.04 per share. One half of the options vested on October 25, 2004, with the remaining 50% vesting at the end of each quarter subsequent to October 25, 2004. Each option will expire two years after its vesting date. The preferred shares reserved for issuance pursuant to these options are in addition to and separate from those shares that are reserved for issuance under the plan described in the paragraph immediately below.
Stock Option Plan
      Our stock option plan was approved at a special shareholders’ meeting held on December 9, 2004. The stock option plan is aimed at promoting our interests by encouraging management employees to contribute substantially to our success, by incentivizing them with stock options. The plan is managed by both our compensation committee and our board of directors.
      Participants in the plan are selected by the compensation committee, provided that they have been either president, vice-president, officer, advisor to the president or to the vice-president, or general manager for at least six months prior to the date on which the option is granted. The stock options to be granted under the plan confer rights related only to our preferred shares, and over a number of preferred shares that does not, at any time, exceed 5% of our shares. The compensation committee establishes the strike price of the options to be granted, which must be equal to the average price of the preferred shares recorded in the last 60 trading sessions prior to the granting date, adjusted pursuant to the IGP-M inflation index. The options that can be freely exercised may be exercised up to the tenth anniversary of the granting date.
      The plan is valid for a ten-year term. In case of termination of our legal relationship with the option holder, with or without cause (except in the case of retirement, permanent disability or death) all options that have been granted to the participant, and which were not yet exercisable, automatically expire.
      On January 19, 2005, we issued stock options to executive officers to purchase up to 87,418 of our preferred shares at an exercise price of R$33.06. The options will vest over a five-year period.

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PRINCIPAL AND SELLING SHAREHOLDERS
      The following table sets forth information relating to the beneficial ownership of our common shares and preferred shares as of April 27, 2005, by each person known by us to beneficially own 5% or more of our common shares or preferred shares and all our directors and officers as a group.
      Each shareholder’s percentage ownership in the following table is based on the 109,448,497 common shares and 78,094,746 preferred shares outstanding as of the date of this prospectus. The table sets forth our beneficial ownership after the sale of 5,520,811 preferred shares by us and 9,179,189 preferred shares by the selling shareholder in this global offering.
                                                                 
            Preferred Shares       Common and
            Beneficially Owned   Preferred Shares   Preferred Shares
        Prior to the   Beneficially Owned   Beneficially Owned
    Common Shares   Offering   After the Offering   After the Offering
                 
    Shares   (%)   Shares   (%)   Shares   (%)   Shares   (%)
                                 
Aeropar Participações S.A.(1)
    109,448,477       100 %     31,493,863       40.3 %     31,493,863       37.7 %     140,942,340       73.0 %
BSSF Air Holdings LLC*(2)
    6       **       10,199,100       13.1 %     1,019,911       1.2 %     1,019,917       0.5 %
Comporte Participações S.A.(3)
                3,351,775       4.3 %     3,351,775       4.0 %     3,351,776       1.7 %
Executive officers and directors as a group (8 persons)
    14 (4)     **       8 (4)     **       8 (4)     **       22 (4)     **  
 
  * Selling shareholder.
** Represents ownership of less than 1%.
(1)  Aeropar Participações S.A. is a company controlled by Aller Participações S.A., a closely-held corporation headquartered in the City of São Paulo, State of São Paulo, at Rua Funchal, No. 551, 10th floor, part, enrolled with C.N.P.J. under No. 07.058.533/0001-73, Vaud Participações S.A., a closely-held corporation headquartered in the City of São Paulo, State of São Paulo, at Rua Funchal, No. 551, 10th floor, part, enrolled with C.N.P.J. under No. 07.058.553/0001-44, Thurgau Participações S.A., a closely-held corporation headquartered in the City of São Paulo, State of São Paulo, at Rua Funchal, No. 551, 10th floor, part, enrolled with C.N.P.J. under No. 07.061.067/0001-85 and Limmat Participações S.A., a closely-held corporation headquartered in the City of São Paulo, State of São Paulo, at Rua Funchal, No. 551, 10th floor, part, enrolled with C.N.P.J. under No. 07.058.544/0001-53, which, in turn, are controlled by Messrs. Constantino de Oliveira Júnior, Henrique Constantino, Joaquim Constantino Neto and Ricardo Constantino, respectively.
 
(2)  BSSF Air Holdings LLC is wholly-owned by BSSF Air Holdings Ltd. BSSF Air Holdings Ltd. is owned by AIG Brazil Special Situations Fund, L.P. (“BSSF”) and AIG Brazil Special Situations Parallel Fund, C.V. (“BSSF Parallel”). Each of BSSF and BSSF Parallel is managed by AIG BSSF, L.P. (“AIGBSSFGP”), an indirect wholly-owned subsidiary of American International Group, Inc. (“AIG”). Each of BSSF Air Holdings Ltd.; BSSF; BSSF Parallel; AIGBSSFGP, the sole general partner of BSSF and the managing general partner of BSSF Parallel; AIG BSSF Investments, Ltd. (“AIGBSSFI”), the sole general partner of AIGBSSFGP; AIG Capital Partners, Inc. (“AIGCP”), the sole shareholder of AIGBSSFI; AIG Global Asset Management Holdings, Corp. (“AIGGAM”), the sole shareholder of AIGCP; AIG Capital Corp., the sole shareholder of AIGGAM; and AIG; may be deemed to beneficially own some or all of the shares held of record directly by BSSF Air Holdings LLC. Each of the foregoing entities disclaims beneficial ownership of the shares held of record directly by BSSF Air Holdings LLC. The address of BSSF Air Holdings LLC is 599 Lexington Avenue, 24th floor, New York, New York 10022.
 
(3)  Comporte Participações S.A. is controlled equally by Constantino de Oliveira Junior, Henrique Constantino, Joaquim Constantino Neto and Ricardo Constantino. The address of Comporte Participações S.A. is Avenida Dom Jaime de Barros Câmara 300, suite 08, São Bernardo do Campo, São Paulo, 09895-400, Brazil.
 
(4)  Shares transferred to members of the board of directors for eligibility purposes.

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RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS
      We have engaged in a number of transactions with related parties, none of which have involved the issuance of guarantees.
Shareholders’ Agreement
      Under the terms of our shareholders’ agreement, five of the members of our board of directors have been appointed by Aeropar Participações S.A. BSSF Air Holdings LLC has the right to elect one member of our board of directors under the terms of our shareholders’ agreement as long as BSSF Air Holdings holds 5% or more of our total share capital. None of the current members of our board of directors has been elected by BSSF Air Holdings. Upon the exercise by our minority shareholders of any minority rights set forth under the Brazilian corporation law, BSSF Air Holding’s right to elect one member of our board of directors will only prevail to the extent that Aeropar Participações S.A. still retains the right to appoint the majority of our board of directors. The shareholders’ agreement will terminate upon the sale in this global offering by BSSF Air Holdings LLC of the 9,179,189 preferred shares that it is offering in this global offering.
Agreements with Áurea Administração e Participações S.A.
Headquarters lease agreement
      On April 1, 2003 Gol entered into a five-year lease agreement with Áurea Administração e Participações S.A. for the lease of our headquarters located at Rua Tamoios, 246. The lease agreement provides for monthly payments of R$25,000, adjusted annually for inflation by the IGP-M index.
Transportation agreement
      Gol has entered into exclusive bus transportation agreements with Expresso União Ltda. and Breda Serviços, which are companies controlled by Áurea Administração e Participações S.A. for the transportation of Gol’s passengers, their baggage and Gol’s employees. In 2003 and 2004, Gol made total payments of approximately R$148,000 and approximately R$967,000, respectively, under these bus transportation agreements.
Subscription and Option Agreement
      On January 20, 2003, Áurea Administração e Participações S.A., BSSF II Holdings Ltda., BSSF Air Holdings Ltd. and Gol entered into a Subscription and Option Agreement under which BSSF II Holdings Ltda. agreed to subscribe and pay for 7,675,748 of Gol’s Class A preferred shares and BSSF Air Holdings Ltd. agreed to subscribe and pay for 2,699,252 of Gol’s Class A preferred shares and 8,408,206 of Gol’s Class B preferred shares.
      In February 2004, Áurea Administração e Participações S.A. exercised its call option pursuant to the Subscription and Option Agreement. As a result, on March 29, 2004, Áurea Administração e Participações S.A. acquired all of BSSF Air Holdings Ltd.’s share ownership in Gol and 140,350 Class A preferred shares of Gol from BSSF II Holdings Ltda.

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DESCRIPTION OF CAPITAL STOCK
General
      The Registrant became the parent company of Gol on March 29, 2004, when all of the common shares, Class A preferred shares and Class B preferred shares of Gol (except for five common shares and three Class B preferred shares of Gol that are held by members of Gol’s board of directors for eligibility purposes) were contributed to the Registrant by the shareholders of Gol in exchange for the applicable number of either common shares or preferred shares of the Registrant. As a result of this reorganization, 41,499,995 common shares of Gol were exchanged for 109,448,267 common shares and 6,751,719 preferred shares of the Registrant, 10,375,000 Class A preferred shares of Gol were exchanged for 29,049,994 preferred shares and 6 common shares of the Registrant and 8,408,206 Class B preferred shares of Gol were exchanged for 23,542,977 preferred shares of the Registrant. The reorganization did not affect our operations in any respect. The aggregate number of our common and preferred shares outstanding was increased to 168,793,243 as the result of a 2.80-for-one stock split on May 25, 2004 (which includes 224 common shares and 56 preferred shares of the Registrant that were issued in connection with its formation on March 12, 2004). On June 29, 2004, the Registrant completed its initial public offering through the issuance of 18,750,000 preferred shares in the form of ADSs in the United States and other countries outside Brazil and in the form of preferred shares in Brazil. As a result, our capital structure currently consists of 109,448,497 common shares and 78,094,746 undesignated preferred shares, all with no par value. We are a stock corporation (sociedade anônima) incorporated under the laws of Brazil.
Issued Share Capital
      Under our by-laws, our authorized capital is R$1.2 billion, and can be increased by the issuance of preferred or common shares, after approval by our board of directors. Our shareholders must approve any capital increase that exceeds our authorized capital. Under our by-laws and the Brazilian corporation law, if we issue additional shares in a private transaction, the existing shareholders have preemptive rights to subscribe for shares on a pro rata basis according to their holdings. See “—Preemptive Rights.”
Regulation of Foreign Investment
      There are no general restrictions on ownership of our preferred shares or common shares by individuals or legal entities domiciled outside Brazil, except for those regarding airline companies (see “—Regulation of the Brazilian Civil Aviation Market”). However, the right to convert dividend payments and proceeds from the sale of preferred shares or common shares into foreign currency and to remit such amounts outside Brazil is subject to restrictions under foreign investment legislation which generally requires, among other things, the registration of the relevant investment with the Central Bank.
      Foreign investors may register their investment under Law No. 4,131 of September 3, 1962, or Law No. 4,131, or Resolution No. 2,689 of January 26, 2000 of the CMN, or Resolution No. 2,689. Registration under Law No. 4,131 or under Resolution No. 2,689 generally enables foreign investors to convert into foreign currency dividends, other distributions and sales proceeds received in connection with registered investments and to remit such amounts abroad. Resolution No. 2,689 affords favorable tax treatment to foreign investors who are not resident in a tax haven jurisdiction, which is defined under Brazilian tax laws as a country that does not impose taxes or where the maximum income tax rate is lower than 20% or that restricts the disclosure of shareholder composition or ownership of investments.
      Under Resolution No. 2,689, foreign investors may invest in almost all financial assets and engage in almost all transactions available in the Brazilian financial and capital markets, provided that certain requirements are fulfilled. In accordance with Resolution No. 2,689, the definition of foreign investor includes individuals, legal entities, mutual funds and other collective investment entities that are domiciled or headquartered abroad.

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      Pursuant to Resolution No. 2,689, foreign investors must:
  appoint at least one representative in Brazil with powers to perform actions relating to the foreign investment;
 
  complete the appropriate foreign investor registration form;
 
  register as a foreign investor with the CVM; and
 
  register the foreign investment with the Central Bank.
      Securities and other financial assets held by foreign investors pursuant to Resolution No. 2,689 must be registered or maintained in deposit accounts or under the custody of an entity duly licensed by the Central Bank or the CVM. In addition, securities trading is restricted to transactions carried out in the stock exchanges or organized over-the-counter markets licensed by the CVM. The right to convert dividend payments and proceeds from the sale of our capital stock into foreign currency and to remit these amounts outside Brazil is subject to restrictions under foreign investment legislation, which generally requires, among other things, that the relevant investment be registered with the Central Bank. Restrictions on the remittance of foreign capital abroad could hinder or prevent the custodian for the preferred shares represented by ADSs, or holders who have exchanged ADSs for preferred shares, from converting dividends, distributions or the proceeds from any sale of preferred shares, as the case may be, into U.S. dollars and remitting such U.S. dollars abroad. Delays in, or refusal to grant, any required governmental approval for conversions of reais payments and remittances abroad of amounts owed to holders of ADSs could adversely affect holders of ADSs.
      Resolution No. 1,927 of the CMN, which is the restated and amended Annex V to Resolution No. 1,289 of the CMN, or the Annex V Regulations, provides for the issuance of depositary receipts in foreign markets in respect of shares of Brazilian issuers. We will file an application to have the ADSs approved under the Annex V Regulations by the Central Bank and the CVM, and we will have received final approval before the completion of this offering.
      The custodian will obtain on behalf of the depositary an electronic certificate of foreign capital registration with respect to the ADSs sold in the international offering. This electronic registration is carried on through the Central Bank Information System, or SISBACEN. Pursuant to the registration, the custodian and the depositary will be able to convert dividends and other distributions with respect to the preferred shares represented by ADSs into foreign currency and remit the proceeds outside Brazil. In the event that a holder of ADSs surrenders such ADSs and withdraws preferred shares, the holder will be entitled to continue to rely on the depositary’s registration for five business days after the withdrawal, following which such holder must seek to obtain its own electronic certificate of foreign capital registration. Thereafter, unless the preferred shares are held pursuant to Resolution No. 2,689, by a duly registered investor, or, if not a registered investor under Resolution No. 2,689, a holder of preferred shares applies for and obtains a new certificate of registration, the holder may not be able to convert into foreign currency and remit outside Brazil the proceeds from the disposition of, or distributions with respect to, the preferred shares, and the holder, if not registered under Resolution No. 2,689, will be subject to less favorable Brazilian tax treatment than a holder of ADSs. In addition, if the foreign investor resides in a tax haven jurisdiction, the investor will also be subject to less favorable tax treatment. See “Risk Factors—Risks Relating to the ADSs and Our Preferred Shares—If you surrender the ADSs and withdraw our preferred shares, you risk losing the ability to remit foreign currency abroad and certain Brazilian tax advantages” and “Taxation—Brazilian Tax Consequences.”
Description of Preferred Shares
      According to our by-laws, similar to preferred shares of companies incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware, our preferred shares are non-voting. However, under certain limited circumstances provided for in the Brazilian corporation law and as described in this section, holders of our preferred shares may be entitled to vote. Upon liquidation, holders of preferred shares are entitled to receive distributions prior to the holders of our common shares.

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      Holders of our preferred shares are not entitled to voting rights, except in connection with certain specific matters. See “—Voting Rights.” Unlike holders of preferred shares of companies incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware, which are typically entitled to a fixed dividend established pursuant to the company’s articles of incorporation, holders of our preferred shares are entitled to receive dividends per share in the same amount of the dividends per share paid to holders of our common shares.
      Also unlike holders of preferred shares of companies incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware, which typically do not have the benefit of tag-along rights, according to our by-laws, holders of our preferred shares are entitled to be included in a public tender offer in case our controlling shareholder sells its controlling stake in us, and the minimum price to be offered for each preferred share is 100% of the price paid per share of the controlling stake.
      Under Brazilian law, the protections afforded to minority shareholders are different from those in the United States. In particular, judicial guidance with respect to shareholder disputes is less established under Brazilian law than U.S. law and there are different procedural requirements for bringing shareholder lawsuits, such as shareholder derivative suits. As a result, in practice it may be more difficult for our minority shareholders to enforce their rights against us or our directors or controlling shareholder than it would be for shareholders of a U.S. company.
Redemption and Rights of Withdrawal
      Similar to dissenting shareholders of corporations incorporated under the State of Delaware, under the Brazilian corporation law, a dissenting or non-voting shareholder has the right to withdraw from a company and be reimbursed for the value of the preferred or common shares held whenever a decision is taken at a general shareholders’ meeting by a vote of shareholders representing at least 50% of the total outstanding voting capital to:
  create a new class of preferred shares or increase disproportionately an existing class of preferred shares relative to the other classes of shares, unless such action is provided for or authorized by our by-laws (our by-laws allow us to do so);
 
  modify a preference, privilege or condition of redemption or amortization conferred on one or more classes of preferred shares, or create a new class with greater privileges than the existing classes of preferred shares;
 
  reduce the mandatory distribution of dividends;
 
  merge or consolidate us with another company;
 
  participate in a centralized group of companies as defined in the Brazilian corporation law and subject to the conditions set forth therein;
 
  change our corporate purpose, including a sale of the voting control of Gol to a third party;
 
  transfer all of our shares to another company or receive shares of another company in order to make the company whose shares were transferred a wholly owned subsidiary of such company, known as incorporação de ações;
 
  conduct a spin-off that results in (a) a change of our corporate purposes, except if the assets and liabilities of the spun-off company are contributed to a company that is engaged in substantially the same activities, (b) a reduction in the mandatory dividend or (c) any participation in a centralized group of companies, as defined under the Brazilian corporation law; or
 
  acquire control of another company at a price which exceeds the limits set forth in the Brazilian corporation law.
      In the event that the entity resulting from a merger, consolidation, or incorporação de ações, or spin-off of a listed company fails to become a listed company within 120 days of the shareholders meeting at which such decision was taken, the dissenting or non-voting shareholders may also exercise their withdrawal right.

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      If there is a resolution to (a) merge or consolidate us with another company; (b) incorporação de ações; (c) participate in a group of companies, as defined under the Brazilian corporation law, or (d) acquire control of another company, the withdrawal rights are exercisable only if our shares do not satisfy certain tests of liquidity and dispersal of the type or class of shares in the market at the time of the general meeting.
      Only holders of shares adversely affected by the changes mentioned in the first and second items above may withdraw their shares.
      The right of withdrawal lapses 30 days after publication of the minutes of the relevant general shareholders’ meeting that approved the corporate actions described above. In the case of the changes mentioned in the first and second items above, the resolution is subject to confirmation by the preferred shareholders, which must be obtained at a special meeting held within one year. In those cases, the 30-day term is counted from the date of publication of the minutes of the special meeting. We would be entitled to reconsider any action triggering appraisal rights within 10 days following the expiration of such rights if the redemption of shares of dissenting or non-voting shareholders would jeopardize our financial stability. Shares to be purchased by us from the dissenting or non-voting shareholders exercising appraisal rights will be valued at an amount equal to the lesser of the ratable portion attributable to such shares of our shareholders’ equity as shown on the last balance sheet approved at a general shareholders’ meeting (book value) and the ratable portion attributable to such shares of the economic value of the company, pursuant to an appraisal report produced in accordance with the provisions of the Brazilian corporation law. If more than 60 days have elapsed since the date of such balance sheet, dissenting shareholders may require that the book value of their shares be calculated on the basis of a new balance sheet. As a general rule, shareholders who acquire their shares after the first notice convening the general shareholders’ meeting or after the relevant press release concerning the meeting is published will not be entitled to appraisal rights.
      For purposes of the right of withdrawal, the concept of “dissenting shareholder,” under the Brazilian corporation law, includes not only those shareholders who vote against a specific resolution, but also those who abstain from voting, who fail to attend the shareholders meeting or who do not have voting rights. The concept of “dissenting shareholder” under the Brazilian corporation law differs from that of “dissenting shareholder” under Delaware law, under which a dissenting shareholder is generally a shareholder who objects to a proposed corporate action and demands payment for his or her shares before such action is voted upon.
Preemptive Rights
      Each of our shareholders generally has a preemptive right to subscribe for shares or convertible securities in any capital increases, in proportion to its shareholdings. A minimum period of 30 days, unless a shorter period is established by our board of directors, following the publication of notice of the capital increase is allowed for the exercise of the right and the right is negotiable. In the event of a capital increase which would maintain or increase the proportion of capital represented by preferred shares, holders of ADSs or preferred shares would have preemptive rights to subscribe only to newly issued preferred shares. In the event of a capital increase which would reduce the proportion of capital represented by preferred shares, holders of ADSs or preferred shares would have preemptive rights to subscribe for preferred shares, in proportion to their shareholdings, and for common shares, only to the extent necessary to prevent dilution of their equity participation. (See “Risks Relating to the ADSs and Our Preferred Shares—Holders of ADSs may be unable to exercise preemptive rights with respect to our preferred shares”). Our by-laws provide that our board of directors may, within the limit of its authorized capital, withdraw preemptive rights to existing shareholders in connection with an increase in share capital through sale in stock exchanges, public offerings or public exchange offers. In addition, Brazilian corporation law provides that the granting or exercise of stock options pursuant to certain stock option plans is not subject to preemptive rights. Shareholders of corporations incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware generally do not have preemptive rights unless set forth specifically in such corporations’ charters.

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Voting Rights
      Each common share entitles its holder to one vote at our shareholders’ meetings. Preferred shares have no voting rights, except that each preferred share entitles its holder to one vote at our shareholders’ meeting to decide on certain specific matters, such as (a) any transformation of the company into another corporate type; (b) any merger, consolidation or spin-off of the company; (c) approval of any transactions between the company and its controlling shareholder or parties related to the controlling shareholder; (d) approval of any evaluation of assets to be delivered to the company in payment for shares issued in a capital increase; (e) appointment of an expert to ascertain the fair value of the company in connection with any deregistration and delisting tender offer; (f) any changes to these voting rights; and (g) approval of a change of our corporate purpose. Holders of preferred shares are entitled to attend shareholders’ meetings and to participate in the discussions. The Brazilian corporation law provides that non-voting shares, such as preferred shares, may acquire voting rights if the company fails to distribute fixed or minimum dividends in connection with such shares for three consecutive fiscal years and will retain such voting rights until the distribution of such fixed or minimum dividends. Because our preferred shares are not entitled to the payment of any fixed or minimum dividend, holders of our preferred shares cannot acquire voting rights as a result of our failure to distribute dividends. (See “Risks Relating to the ADSs and Our Preferred Shares—You and the holders of the preferred shares may not receive any dividends”).
      According to the Brazilian corporation law, any change in the preferences or rights of our preferred shares, or the creation of a class of shares having priority over our preferred shares, unless such change is authorized by our by-laws, would require the approval of our preferred shareholders in a special shareholders’ meeting in addition to approval by a majority of the holders of our outstanding voting shares. The holders of preferred shares would vote as a class at the special meeting.
      The Brazilian corporation law grants (i) holders of preferred shares without voting rights (or with restricted voting rights) representing 10% of the total issued capital stock, and (ii) holders of our common shares that are not part of the controlling group, and represent at least 15% of the voting capital stock, the right to appoint a member to the board of directors, by voting during the annual shareholders’ meeting. If none of our non-controlling holders of common or preferred shares meets the respective thresholds described above, holders of preferred or common shares representing at least 10% of the share capital would be able to combine their holdings to appoint one member and an alternate to our board of directors. Such rights may only be exercised by those shareholders who prove that they have held the required stake with no interruption during at least the three months directly preceding our annual shareholders meeting. Until 2005, the board members that may be elected by the preferred shareholders as described above must be chosen from a list of three names indicated by our controlling shareholders.
      Holders of common shares are entitled to certain rights that cannot be amended by changes in the by-laws or at a general shareholders’ meeting, which include (i) the right to vote at general shareholders’ meetings; (ii) the right to participate in distributions of dividends and interest on capital and to share in the remaining assets of the company in the event of liquidation; (iii) preemptive rights in certain circumstances; and (iv) the right to withdraw from the company in certain cases. In addition to those rights, the by-laws or a majority of the voting shareholders may establish additional rights and, likewise, remove them. Currently, our by-laws do not establish any rights in addition to those already set forth by the Brazilian corporation law. The Level 2 of Differentiated Corporate Governance Practices, which we will comply with, provides for the granting of voting rights to holders of preferred shares in connection with certain matters, including corporate restructurings, mergers and related party transactions.
      Controlling shareholders may nominate and elect a majority of the members of the board of directors of Brazilian companies. In a Brazilian company, management is not entitled to nominate directors for election by the shareholders. Non-controlling shareholders and holders of non-voting shares are entitled to elect representatives to the board, as described above. Holders of a threshold percentage of the voting shares may also request, up to 48 hours prior to any general shareholders’ meeting, that the election of directors be subject to cumulative voting. The threshold percentage required for cumulative voting for a corporation such as ours is

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currently 5% of the outstanding shares. Shareholders who vote to elect a representative of the non-controlling shareholders may not cast cumulative votes to elect other members of the board.
Conversion Right
      Our shareholders may, at any time, convert common shares into preferred shares, at the rate of one common share to one preferred share, to the extent such shares are duly paid and provided that the amount of preferred shares does not exceed 50% of the total amount of shares issued. Any request for conversion must be delivered to our board of executive officers and, once accepted by the board of executive officers, must be confirmed by our board of directors at the first meeting after the date of the request for conversion.
Special and General Meetings
      Unlike the laws governing corporations incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware, the Brazilian corporation law does not allow shareholders to approve matters by written consent obtained as a response to a consent solicitation procedure. All matters subject to approval by the shareholders must be approved in a general meeting, duly convened pursuant to the provisions of Brazilian corporation law. Shareholders may be represented at a shareholders’ meeting by attorneys-in-fact who are (i) shareholders of the corporation, (ii) a Brazilian attorney, (iii) a member of management or (iv) a financial institution.
      General and special shareholders’ meetings may be called by publication of a notice in the Diário Oficial do Estado de São Paulo and in a newspaper of general circulation in our principal place of business at least 15 days prior to the meeting. Special meetings are convened in the same manner as general shareholders’ meetings and may occur immediately before or after a general meeting.
Anti-Takeover Provisions
      Differently from companies incorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware, Brazilian companies generally do not employ “poison pill” provisions to prevent hostile takeovers. As most Brazilian companies have clearly identified controlling shareholders, hostile takeovers are highly unusual and no developed body of case law addresses the limits on the ability of management to prevent or deter potential hostile bidders. The Brazilian corporation law and our by-laws require any party that acquires our control to extend a tender offer for common and preferred shares held by non-controlling shareholders at the same purchase price paid to the controlling shareholder.
Arbitration
      In connection with our listing with Level 2 of Differentiated Corporate Governance Practices, we and our controlling shareholders, directors and officers have undertaken to refer to arbitration any and all disputes arising out of the Level 2 rules or any other corporate matters. See “Market Information.” Under our by-laws, any disputes among us, our shareholders and our management with respect to the application of Level 2 rules, the Brazilian Corporate Law or the application of the rules and regulations regarding Brazilian capital markets, will be resolved by arbitration conducted pursuant to the BOVESPA Arbitration Rules. Any disputes among shareholders, including holders of ADSs, and disputes between us and shareholders, including holders of ADSs, will be submitted to arbitration in accordance with the BOVESPA Arbitration Rules.
Form and Transfer
      Because our preferred shares are in registered book-entry form, Banco Itaú S.A., as registrar, must effect any transfer of shares by an entry made in its books, in which it debits the share account of the transferor and credits the share account of the transferee. When our shares are acquired or sold on a Brazilian stock exchange, the transfer is effected on the records of our registrar by a representative of a brokerage firm or the stock exchange’s clearing system. Transfers of shares by a foreign investor are executed in the same way by that investor’s local agent on the investor’s behalf except that, if the original investment were registered with the Central Bank pursuant to Resolution No. 2,689, the foreign investor should also seek amendment through its local agent, if necessary, of the electronic registration to reflect the new ownership. The BOVESPA

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operates a clearinghouse through CBLC. The fact that such shares are subject to custody with the relevant stock exchange will be reflected in our registry of shareholders. Each participating shareholder will, in turn, be registered in the register of our beneficial shareholders that is maintained by CBLC and will be treated in the same way as registered shareholders.

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DIVIDENDS AND DIVIDEND POLICY
Amounts Available for Distribution
      At each annual general shareholders’ meeting, our board of directors is required to propose how our earnings for the preceding fiscal year are to be allocated. For purposes of Brazilian corporation law, a company’s non-consolidated net income after federal income tax and social contribution on net income for such fiscal year, net of any accumulated losses from prior fiscal years and amounts allocated to employees’ and management’s participation in earnings, represents its “income” for such fiscal year. In accordance with the Brazilian corporation law, an amount equal to the company’s “income,” as adjusted (the “distributable amount”), will be available for distribution to shareholders in any particular year. The distributable amount will be affected by the following:
  reduced by amounts allocated to the legal reserve;
 
  reduced by amounts allocated to the statutory reserve, if any;
 
  reduced by amounts allocated to the contingency reserve, if any;
 
  reduced by amounts allocated to the unrealized profits reserve established by the company in compliance with applicable law (as discussed below);
 
  reduced by amounts allocated to the reserve for investment projects (as discussed below); and
 
  increased by reversals of reserves recorded in prior years.
      Our by-laws do not provide for statutory or contingency reserves. Under the Brazilian corporation law and according to our by-laws, we are required to maintain a “legal reserve” to which we must allocate 5% of our “income” for each fiscal year until the amount of the reserve equals 20% of paid-in capital. We are not required to make any allocations to our legal reserve in respect of any fiscal year in which such reserve, when added to our capital reserves, exceeds 30% of our capital. Accumulated losses, if any, may be charged against the legal reserve. Other than that, the legal reserve can only be used to increase our capital. The legal reserve is subject to approval by the shareholders voting at the annual shareholders’ meeting and may be transferred to capital but is not available for the payment of dividends in subsequent years. Our calculation of net income and allocations to reserves for any fiscal year are determined on the basis of our non-consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with the Brazilian corporation law.
      Under the Brazilian corporation law, a portion of a corporation’s “income” may be allocated for discretionary appropriations for plant expansion and other fixed or working capital investment projects, the amount of which is based on a capital budget previously presented by management and approved by the shareholders in a general shareholders’ meeting. After completion of the relevant capital projects, the company may retain the appropriation until shareholders vote to transfer all or a portion of the reserve to capital or retained earnings. The Brazilian corporation law provides that, if a project to which the reserve for investment projects account is allocated has a term exceeding one year, the budget related to the project must be submitted to the shareholders’ meeting each fiscal year until the relevant investment is completed.
      Under the Brazilian corporation law, the amount by which the mandatory distribution exceeds the “realized” portion of net income for any particular year may be allocated to the unrealized profits reserve and the mandatory distribution may be limited to the “realized” portion of net income. The “realized” portion of net income is the amount by which “income” exceeds the sum of (a) our net positive results, if any, from the equity method of accounting for earnings and losses of our subsidiaries and certain affiliates, and (b) the profits, gains or income obtained on transactions maturing after the end of the following fiscal year. As amounts allocated to the unrealized income reserve are realized in subsequent years, such amounts must be added to the dividend payment relating to the year of realization.
      Under Brazilian tax legislation, a portion of the income taxes payable may also be transferred to a general “fiscal incentive reserve” in amounts equivalent to the reduction in the company’s income tax liability which

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results from the option to deposit part of that liability into investment in approved projects in investment incentive regions established by government.
      Under the Brazilian corporation law, any company may create a “statutory” reserve, which reserve must be described in the company’s by-laws. Those by-laws which authorize the allocation of a percentage of a company’s net income to the statutory reserve must also indicate the purpose, the criteria for allocation and the maximum amount of the reserve. The Brazilian corporation law provides that all discretionary allocations of “income,” including the unrealized profits reserve and the reserve for investment projects, are subject to approval by the shareholders voting at the general shareholders’ meeting and may be transferred to capital or used for the payment of dividends in subsequent years. The fiscal incentive reserve and the legal reserve are also subject to approval by the shareholders voting at the general shareholders’ meeting and may be transferred to capital or used to absorb losses, but are not available for the payment of dividends in subsequent years.
      The amounts available for distribution may be further increased by a reversion of the contingency reserve for anticipated losses constituted in prior years but not realized. Allocations to the contingency reserve are also subject to approval by the shareholders voting at the general shareholders meeting. The amounts available for distribution are determined on the basis of our non-consolidated financial statements prepared in accordance with Brazilian GAAP.
      The balance of the profit reserve accounts, except for the contingency reserve and unrealized profits reserve, may not exceed the share capital. If this happens, a shareholders’ meeting must resolve whether the excess will be applied to pay in the subscribed and unpaid capital, to increase and pay in the subscribed stock capital or to distribute dividends.
      Pursuant to Law No. 10,303, net income unallocated to the accounts mentioned above must be distributed as dividends.
Mandatory Distribution
      The Brazilian corporation law generally requires that the by-laws of each Brazilian corporation specify a minimum percentage of the amounts available for distribution by such corporation for each fiscal year that must be distributed to shareholders as dividends, also known as the mandatory distribution.
      The mandatory distribution is based on a percentage of adjusted non-consolidated net income, not lower than 25%, rather than a fixed monetary amount per share. If the by-laws of a corporation are silent in this regard, the percentage is deemed to be 50%. Under our by-laws, at least 25% of our adjusted non-consolidated net income, as calculated under Brazilian GAAP and adjusted under the Brazilian corporation law (which differs significantly from net income as calculated under U.S. GAAP), for the preceding fiscal year must be distributed as a mandatory annual dividend. Adjusted net income means the distributable amount after any deductions for the legal reserve and contingency reserves and any reversals of the contingency reserves created in previous fiscal years. The Brazilian corporation law, however, permits a publicly held company, such as we are, to suspend the mandatory distribution of dividends in any fiscal year in which the board of directors reports to the shareholders’ meeting that the distribution would be inadvisable in view of the company’s financial condition. The suspension is subject to the approval at the shareholders’ meeting and review by members of the fiscal committee. While the law does not establish the circumstances in which payment of the mandatory dividend would be “inadvisable” based on the company’s financial condition, it is generally agreed that a company need not pay the mandatory dividend if such payment threatens the existence of the company as a going concern or harms its normal course of operations. In the case of publicly held corporations, the board of directors must file a justification for such suspension with the CVM within five days of the relevant general meeting. If the mandatory dividend is not paid and funds are available, those funds shall be attributed to a special reserve account. If not absorbed by subsequent losses, those funds shall be paid out as dividends as soon as the financial condition of the company permits.

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Payment of Dividends
      We are required by the Brazilian corporation law to hold an annual general shareholders’ meeting by no later than April 30 of each year, at which time, among other things, the shareholders have to decide on the payment of an annual dividend. Additionally, interim dividends may be declared by the board of directors. Any holder of record of shares at the time of a dividend declaration is entitled to receive dividends. Dividends on shares held through depositaries are paid to the depositary for further distribution to the shareholders. Under the Brazilian corporation law, dividends are generally required to be paid to the holder of record on a dividend declaration date within 60 days following the date the dividend was declared, unless a shareholders’ resolution sets forth another date of payment, which, in either case, must occur prior to the end of the fiscal year in which such dividend was declared. Pursuant to our by-laws, unclaimed dividends do not bear interest, are not monetarily adjusted and revert to us three years after dividends were declared. See “Description of American Depositary Shares.”
      In general, shareholders who are not residents of Brazil must register their equity investment with the Central Bank to have dividends, sales proceeds or other amounts with respect to their shares eligible to be remitted outside Brazil. The preferred shares underlying the ADSs are held in Brazil by Banco Itaú S.A., also known as the custodian, as agent for the depositary, that is the registered owner on the records of the registrar for our shares. The current registrar is Banco Itaú S.A. The depositary registers the preferred shares underlying the ADSs with the Central Bank and, therefore, is able to have dividends, sales proceeds or other amounts with respect to the preferred shares remitted outside Brazil.
      Payments of cash dividends and distributions, if any, are made in reais to the custodian on behalf of the depositary, which then converts such proceeds into U.S. dollars and causes such U.S. dollars to be delivered to the depositary for distribution to holders of ADSs. In the event that the custodian is unable to convert immediately the Brazilian currency received as dividends into U.S. dollars, the amount of U.S. dollars payable to holders of ADSs may be adversely affected by depreciations of the Brazilian currency that occur before the dividends are converted. Under the current Brazilian corporation law, dividends paid to persons who are not Brazilian residents, including holders of ADSs, will not be subject to Brazilian withholding tax, except for dividends declared based on profits generated prior to December 31, 1995, which will be subject to Brazilian withholding income tax at varying tax rates. See “Taxation— Brazilian Tax Considerations.”
      Holders of ADSs have the benefit of the electronic registration obtained from the Central Bank, which permits the depositary and the custodian to convert dividends and other distributions or sales proceeds with respect to the preferred shares represented by ADSs into foreign currency and remits the proceeds outside Brazil. In the event the holder exchanges the ADSs for preferred shares, the holder will be entitled to continue to rely on the depositary’s certificate of registration for five business days after the exchange. Thereafter, in order to convert foreign currency and remit outside Brazil the sales proceeds or distributions with respect to the preferred shares, the holder must obtain a new certificate of registration in its own name that will permit the conversion and remittance of such payments through the commercial rate exchange market. See “Description of Capital Stock— Regulation of Foreign Investment and Exchange Controls.”
      If the holder is not a duly qualified investor and does not obtain an electronic certificate of foreign capital registration, a special authorization from the Central Bank must be obtained in order to remit from Brazil any payments with respect to the preferred shares through the commercial rate exchange market. Without this special authorization, the holder may currently remit payments with respect to the preferred shares through the floating rate exchange market, although no assurance can be given that the floating rate exchange market will be accessible for these purposes in the future.
      In addition, a holder who is not a duly qualified investor and who has not obtained an electronic certificate of foreign capital registration or a special authorization from the Central Bank may remit these payments by international transfer of Brazilian currency pursuant to Central Bank Resolution No. 1,946, dated July 29, 1992, and Central Bank Circular No. 2,677, dated April 10, 1996. The subsequent conversion of such Brazilian currency into U.S. dollars may be made by international financial institutions under a mechanism currently available in the floating rate exchange market. However, we cannot assure you that this mechanism will exist or be available at the time payments with respect to the preferred shares are made.

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      Under current Brazilian legislation, the federal government may impose temporary restrictions of foreign capital abroad in the event of a serious imbalance or an anticipated serious imbalance of Brazil’s balance of payments.
Interest Attributable to Shareholders’ Equity
      Under Brazilian tax legislation effective January 1, 1996, Brazilian companies are permitted to pay “interest” to holders of equity securities and treat such payments as an expense for Brazilian income tax purposes and, beginning in 1998, for social contribution purposes. The purpose of the tax law change is to encourage the use of equity investment, as opposed to debt, to finance corporate activities. Payment of such interest may be made at the discretion of our board of directors, subject to the approval of the shareholders at a general shareholders’ meeting. The amount of any such notional “interest” payment to holders of equity securities is generally limited in respect of any particular year to the greater of:
  50% of net income (after the deduction of the provisions for social contribution on net profits but before taking into account the provision for income tax and the interest attributable to shareholders’ equity) for the period in respect of which the payment is made; or
 
  50% of the sum of retained earnings and profit reserves as of the beginning of the year in respect of which such payment is made.
      For Brazilian GAAP accounting purposes, although the interest charge must be reflected in the statement of operations to be tax deductible, the charge is reversed before calculating net income in the statutory financial statements and deducted from shareholders’ equity in a manner similar to a dividend. Any payment of interest in respect of preferred shares (including the ADSs) is subject to Brazilian withholding tax at the rate of 15%, or 25% in the case of a shareholder domiciled in a tax haven (see “Taxation— Brazilian Tax Considerations”). If such payments are accounted for, at their net value, as part of any mandatory dividend, the tax is paid by the company on behalf of its shareholders, upon distribution of the interest. In case we distribute interest attributed to shareholders’ equity in any year, and that distribution is not accounted for as part of mandatory distribution, Brazilian income tax would be borne by the shareholders. For U.S. GAAP accounting purposes, interest attributable to shareholders’ equity is reflected as a dividend payment.
      Under our by-laws, interest attributable to shareholders’ equity may be treated as a dividend for purposes of the mandatory dividend.
      The following table sets forth the distributions out of net income that we made or will make to our shareholders in respect of our 2002, 2003 and 2004 net income. All these amounts distributed or to be distributed were or will be in the form of interest attributed to shareholders’ equity.
                                         
        Payment   Payment   Aggregate    
Year Ended   Payment   per   per   Amount   Pay-out
December 31,   Dates   Share   ADS   Distributed(1)   Ratio(2)
                     
2002
        R$     R$     R$        
2003
    March 2004     R$ 0.16     R$ 0.32     R$ 26.5       25.0 %
2004
    April 2005     R$ 0.32     R$ 0.64     R$ 60.7       25.0 %
 
(1)  In millions of reais.
(2)  Represents distribution divided by net income, as calculated under Brazilian GAAP and adjusted under the Brazilian corporation law.

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Dividend Policy
      We intend to declare and pay dividends and/or interest attributed to shareholders’ equity, as required by the Brazilian corporation law and our by-laws. Our board of directors may approve the distribution of dividends and/or interest attributed to shareholders’ equity, calculated based on our non-consolidated semiannual or quarterly financial statements. The declaration of annual dividends, including dividends in excess of the mandatory distribution, requires approval by the vote of the majority of the holders of our common shares. The amount of any distributions will depend on many factors, such as our results of operations, financial condition, cash requirements, prospects and other factors deemed relevant by our board of directors and shareholders. Within the context of our tax planning, we may in the future continue determining that it is to our benefit to distribute interest attributed to shareholders’ equity.

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DESCRIPTION OF AMERICAN DEPOSITARY SHARES
American Depositary Receipts
      The Bank of New York, as depositary, will execute and deliver the ADRs. Each ADR is a certificate evidencing a specific number of American Depositary Shares, also referred to as ADSs. Each ADS will represent two preferred shares (or a right to receive two preferred shares) deposited with the principal São Paulo office of Banco Itaú S.A., as custodian for the depositary in Brazil. Each ADS will also represent any other securities, cash or other property which may be held by the depositary. The depositary’s office at which the ADRs will be administered is located at 101 Barclay Street, New York, New York 10286.
      You may hold ADSs either directly (by having an ADR registered in your name) or indirectly through your broker or other financial institution. If you hold ADSs directly, you are an ADR holder. This description assumes you hold your ADSs directly. If you hold the ADSs indirectly, you must rely on the procedures of your broker or other financial institution to assert the rights of ADR holders described in this section. You should consult with your broker or financial institution to find out what those procedures are.
      As an ADR holder, we will not treat you as one of our shareholders and you will not have shareholder rights. Brazilian law governs shareholder rights. The depositary will be the holder of the preferred shares underlying your ADSs. As a holder of ADRs, you will have ADR holder rights. A deposit agreement among us, the depositary and you, as an ADR holder, and the beneficial owners of ADRs sets out ADR holder rights as well as the rights and obligations of the depositary. New York law governs the deposit agreement and the ADRs.
      The following is a summary of the material provisions of the deposit agreement. For more complete information, you should read the entire deposit agreement and the form of ADR. See “Where You Can Find More Information” for directions on how to obtain copies of those documents.
Dividends and Other Distributions
How will you receive dividends and other distributions on the shares?
      The depositary has agreed to pay to you the cash dividends or other distributions it or the custodian receives on preferred shares or other deposited securities, after deducting its fees and expenses described below. You will receive these distributions in proportion to the number of preferred shares your ADSs represent.
  Cash. The depositary will convert any cash dividend or other cash distribution we pay on the preferred shares into U.S. dollars, if it can do so on a reasonable basis and can transfer the U.S. dollars to the United States. If that is not possible or if any government approval is needed and cannot be obtained, the deposit agreement allows the depositary to distribute the foreign currency only to those ADR holders to whom it is possible to do so. It will hold the foreign currency it cannot convert for the account of the ADR holders who have not been paid. It will not invest the foreign currency and it will not be liable for any interest.
      Before making a distribution, the depositary will deduct any withholding taxes that must be paid. See “Taxation.” It will distribute only whole U.S. dollars and cents and will round fractional cents to the nearest whole cent. If the exchange rates fluctuate during a time when the depositary cannot convert the foreign currency, you may lose some or all of the value of the distribution.
  Shares. The depositary may distribute additional ADSs representing any preferred shares we distribute as a dividend or free distribution. The depositary will only distribute whole ADSs. It will sell preferred shares, which would require it to deliver a fractional ADS and distribute the net proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. If the depositary does not distribute additional ADSs, the outstanding ADSs will also represent the new preferred shares.
 
  Rights to purchase additional preferred shares. If we offer holders of our securities any rights to subscribe for additional preferred shares or any other rights, the depositary may make these rights

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  available to you. If the depositary decides it is not legal and practical to make the rights available but that it is practical to sell the rights, the depositary will use reasonable efforts to sell the rights and distribute the proceeds in the same way as it does with cash. The depositary will allow rights that are not distributed or sold to lapse. In that case, you will receive no value for them.
  If the depositary makes rights to purchase preferred shares available to you, it will exercise the rights and purchase the preferred shares on your behalf. The depositary will then deposit the shares and deliver ADSs to you. It will only exercise rights if you pay it the exercise price and any other charges the rights require you to pay.
 
  U.S. securities laws may restrict transfers and cancellation of the ADSs representing preferred shares purchased upon exercise of rights. For example, you may not be able to trade these ADSs freely in the United States. In this case, the depositary may deliver restricted depositary shares that have the same terms as the ADRs described in this section except for changes needed to put the necessary restrictions in place.
  Other Distributions. The depositary will send to you anything else we distribute on deposited securities by any means it thinks is legal, fair and practical. If it cannot make the distribution in that way, the depositary has a choice. It may decide to sell what we distributed and distribute the net proceeds, in the same way as it does with cash. Or, it may decide to hold what we distributed, in which case ADSs will also represent the newly distributed property. However, the depositary is not required to distribute any securities (other than ADSs) to you unless it receives satisfactory evidence from us that it is legal to make that distribution.
      The depositary is not responsible if it decides that it is unlawful or impractical to make a distribution available to any ADR holders. We have no obligation to register ADSs, preferred shares, rights or other securities under the Securities Act. We also have no obligation to take any other action to permit the distribution of ADRs, preferred shares, rights or anything else to ADR holders. (See “Risk Factors— Risks Relating to the ADSs and Our Preferred Shares”). This means that you may not receive the distributions we make on our preferred shares or any value for them if it is illegal or impractical for us to make them available to you.
Deposit, Withdrawal and Cancellation
How are ADSs issued?
      The depositary will deliver ADSs if you or your broker deposits preferred shares or evidence of rights to receive preferred shares with the custodian. Upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will register the appropriate number of ADSs in the names you request and will deliver the ADRs at its office to the persons you request.
How do ADS holders cancel ADSs and obtain shares?
      If you surrender ADSs to the depositary, upon payment of its fees and expenses and of any taxes or charges, such as stamp taxes or stock transfer taxes or fees, the depositary will deliver the preferred shares and any other deposited securities underlying the surrendered ADSs to you or a person you designate at the office of the custodian. Or, at your request, risk and expense, the depositary will deliver the deposited securities at its office, if feasible.
Voting Rights
How do you vote?
      You may instruct the depositary to vote the shares underlying your ADRs. If we ask for your instructions, the depositary will notify you of the upcoming vote and arrange to deliver our voting materials to you. The materials will describe the matters to be voted on and explain how you may instruct the depositary to vote the shares or other deposited securities underlying your ADRs as you direct by a specified date. For instructions to

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be valid, the depositary must receive them on or before the date specified. The depositary will try, as far as practical, subject to Brazilian law and the provisions of our by-laws, to vote or to have its agents vote the shares or other deposited securities as you instruct. Otherwise, you will not be able to exercise your right to vote unless you withdraw the shares. However, you may not know about the meeting far enough in advance to withdraw the shares. We will use our best efforts to request that the depositary notify you of upcoming votes and ask for your instructions.
Fees and Expenses
     
  Persons depositing preferred shares or ADR holders must pay:
    For:
$5.00 (or less) per 100 ADSs (or portion of 100 ADSs)
  •   Issuance of ADSs, including issuances resulting from a distribution of preferred shares or rights or other property
 
    •   Cancellation of ADSs for the purpose of withdrawal, including if the deposit agreement terminates
 
$.02 (or less) per ADS (to the extent not prohibited by the rules of any stock exchange on which the ADSs are listed for trading)
  •   Any cash distribution to you
 
A fee equivalent to the fee that would be payable if securities distributed to you had been preferred shares and the shares had been deposited for issuance of ADSs
  •   Distribution of securities distributed to holders of deposited securities which are distributed by the depositary to ADR holders
 
$.02 (or less) per ADS per calendar year (to the extent the depositary has not collected a cash distribution fee of $.02 per ADS during the year) (to the extent not prohibited by the rules of any stock exchange on which the ADSs are listed for trading)
  •   Depositary services
 
Registration or transfer fees
  •   Transfer and registration of preferred shares on our preferred share register to or from the name of the depositary or its agent when you deposit or withdraw preferred shares.
 
Expenses of the depositary in converting foreign currency to U.S. dollars
   
 
Expenses of the depositary
  •   Cable, telex and facsimile transmissions (when expressly provided in the deposit agreement)
 
Taxes and other governmental charges the depositary or the custodian have to pay on any ADR or preferred share underlying an ADR, for example, stock transfer taxes, stamp duty or withholding taxes
   
 
Any charges incurred by the depositary or its agents for servicing the deposited securities
  •   No charges of this type are currently made in the Brazilian market
Payment of Taxes
      The depositary may deduct the amount of any taxes owed from any payments to you. It may also sell deposited securities, by public or private sale, to pay any taxes owed. You will remain liable if the proceeds of the sale are not enough to pay the taxes. If the depositary sells deposited securities, it will, if appropriate, reduce the number of ADSs to reflect the sale and pay to you any proceeds, or send to you any property, remaining after it has paid the taxes.

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Reclassifications, Recapitalizations and Mergers
     
 If we:    Then:
•   Change the nominal or par value of our preferred shares
  The cash, shares or other securities received by the depositary will become deposited securities. Each ADS will automatically represent its equal share of the new deposited securities.
•   Reclassify, split up or consolidate any of the deposited securities
   
 
•   Distribute securities on the preferred shares that are not distributed to you
  The depositary may distribute some or all of the cash, shares or other securities it received. It may also deliver new ADRs or ask you to surrender your outstanding ADRs in exchange for new ADRs identifying the new deposited securities.
•   Recapitalize, reorganize, merge, liquidate, sell all or substantially all of our assets, or take any similar action
   
Amendment and Termination
How may the deposit agreement be amended?
      We may agree with the depositary to amend the deposit agreement and the ADRs without your consent for any reason. If an amendment adds or increases fees or charges, except for taxes and other governmental charges or expenses of the depositary for registration fees, facsimile costs, delivery charges or similar items, or prejudices a substantial right of ADR holders, it will not become effective for outstanding ADRs until 30 days after the depositary notifies ADR holders of the amendment. At the time an amendment becomes effective, you are considered, by continuing to hold your ADR, to agree to the amendment and to be bound by the ADRs and the deposit agreement as amended.
How may the deposit agreement be terminated?
      The depositary will terminate the deposit agreement if we ask it to do so. The depositary may also terminate the deposit agreement if the depositary has told us that it would like to resign and we have not appointed a new depositary bank within 60 days. In either case, the depositary must notify you at least 30 days before termination.
      After termination, the depositary and its agents will do the following under the deposit agreement but nothing else: (a) advise you that the deposit agreement is terminated, (b) collect distributions on the deposited securities, (c) sell rights and other property, and (d) deliver preferred shares and other deposited securities upon cancellation of ADRs. One year after termination, the depositary may sell any remaining deposited securities by public or private sale. After that, the depositary will hold the money it received on the sale, as well as any other cash it is holding under the deposit agreement for the pro rata benefit of the ADR holders that have not surrendered their ADRs. It will not invest the money and has no liability for interest. The depositary’s only obligations will be to account for the money and other cash. After termination our only obligations will be to indemnify the depositary and to pay fees and expenses of the depositary that we agreed to pay.

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Limitations on Obligations and Liability
Limits on our Obligations and the Obligations of the Depositary; Limits on Liability to Holders of ADRs
      The deposit agreement expressly limits our obligations and the obligations of the depositary. It also limits our liability and the liability of the depositary. We and the depositary:
  are only obligated to take the actions specifically set forth in the deposit agreement without negligence or bad faith;
 
  are not liable if either of us is prevented or delayed by law or circumstances beyond our control from performing our obligations under the deposit agreement;
 
  are not liable if either of us exercises discretion permitted under the deposit agreement;
 
  have no obligation to become involved in a lawsuit or other proceeding related to the ADRs or the deposit agreement on your behalf or on behalf of any other party; and
 
  may rely upon any documents we believe in good faith to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper party.
      In the deposit agreement, we agree to indemnify the depositary for acting as depositary, except for losses caused by the depositary’s own negligence or bad faith, and the depositary agrees to indemnify us for losses resulting from its negligence or bad faith.
Requirements for Depositary Actions
      Before the depositary will deliver or register a transfer of an ADR, make a distribution on an ADR, or permit withdrawal of preferred shares, the depositary may require:
  payment of stock transfer or other taxes or other governmental charges and transfer or registration fees charged by third parties for the transfer of any preferred shares or other deposited securities;
 
  satisfactory proof of the identity and genuineness of any signature or other information it deems necessary; and
 
  compliance with regulations it may establish, from time to time, consistent with the deposit agreement, including presentation of transfer documents.
      The depositary may refuse to deliver ADSs or register transfers of ADSs generally when the transfer books of the depositary or our transfer books are closed or at any time if the depositary or we think it advisable to do so.
Your Right to Receive the Preferred Shares Underlying your ADRs
      You have the right to surrender your ADSs and withdraw the underlying preferred shares at any time except:
  When temporary delays arise because: (i) the depositary has closed its transfer books or we have closed our transfer books; (ii) the transfer of preferred shares is blocked to permit voting at a shareholders’ meeting; or (iii) we are paying a dividend on our preferred shares.
 
  When you owe money to pay fees, taxes and similar charges.
 
  When it is necessary to prohibit withdrawals in order to comply with any laws or governmental regulations that apply to ADRs or to the withdrawal of preferred shares or other deposited securities.
      This right of withdrawal may not be limited by any other provision of the deposit agreement.

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Pre-release of ADRs
      The deposit agreement permits the depositary to deliver ADSs before deposit of the underlying preferred shares. This is called a pre-release of the ADSs. The depositary may also deliver preferred shares upon cancellation of pre-released ADSs (even if the ADSs are surrendered before the pre-release transaction has been closed out). A pre-release is closed out as soon as the underlying preferred shares are delivered to the depositary. The depositary may receive ADRs instead of preferred shares to close out a pre-release. The depositary may pre-release ADSs only under the following conditions: (a) before or at the time of the pre-release, the person to whom the pre-release is being made represents to the depositary in writing that it or its customer owns the preferred shares or ADSs to be deposited; (b) the pre-release is fully collateralized with cash or other collateral that the depositary considers appropriate; and (c) the depositary must be able to close out the pre-release on not more than five business days’ notice. In addition, the depositary will limit the number of ADSs that may be outstanding at any time as a result of pre-release, although the depositary may disregard the limit from time to time, if it thinks it is appropriate to do so. We intend to limit pre-release at our discretion.

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TAXATION
      The following discussion addresses the material Brazilian and United States federal income tax consequences of acquiring, holding and disposing of our preferred shares or ADSs.
      This discussion is not a comprehensive discussion of all the tax considerations that may be relevant to a decision to purchase our preferred shares or ADSs and is not applicable to all categories of investors, some of which may be subject to special rules, and does not specifically address all of the Brazilian and United States federal income tax considerations applicable to any particular holder. It is based upon the tax laws of Brazil and the United States as in effect on the date of this prospectus, which are subject to change, possibly with retroactive effect, and to differing interpretations. Each prospective purchaser is urged to consult its own tax advisor about the particular Brazilian and United States federal income tax consequences to it of an investment in our preferred shares or ADSs. This discussion is also based upon the representations of the depositary and on the assumption that each obligation in the deposit agreement among us, The Bank of New York, as depositary, and the registered holders and beneficial owners of our ADSs, and any related documents, will be performed in accordance with its terms.
      Although there presently is no income tax treaty between Brazil and the United States, the tax authorities of the two countries have had discussions that may culminate in such a treaty. We cannot assure you, however, as to whether or when a treaty will enter into force or how it will affect holders of our preferred shares or ADSs.
Material Brazilian Tax Considerations
      The following discussion, in the opinion of Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga Advogados addresses the material Brazilian tax consequences of the acquisition, ownership and disposition of our preferred shares or ADSs by a holder that is not domiciled in Brazil for purposes of Brazilian taxation and which has registered its investment in such securities with the Central Bank as a U.S. dollar investment (in each case, a Non-Brazilian Holder). Pursuant to Brazilian law, investors may invest in the preferred shares under Resolution No. 2,689.
      Resolution No. 2,689 allows foreign investors to invest in almost all financial assets and to engage in almost all transactions available in the Brazilian financial and capital markets, provided that some requirements are fulfilled. In accordance with Resolution No. 2,689, the definition of foreign investor includes individuals, legal entities, mutual funds and other collective investment entities, domiciled or headquartered abroad.
      Pursuant to Resolution No. 2,689, foreign investors must: (a) appoint at least one representative in Brazil with powers to perform actions relating to the foreign investment; (b) complete the appropriate foreign investor registration form; (c) register as a foreign investor with the Brazilian securities commission; and (d) register the foreign investment with the Central Bank.
      Securities and other financial assets held by foreign investors pursuant to Resolution No. 2,689 must be registered or maintained in deposit accounts or under the custody of an entity duly licensed by the Central Bank or the CVM. In addition, securities trading is restricted to transactions carried out in the stock exchanges or organized over-the-counter markets licensed by the CVM, except for transfers resulting from a corporate reorganization, occurring upon the death of an investor by operation of law or will or as a consequence of the delisting of the relevant shares from a stock exchange and the cancellation of the registration with the CVM.
      Taxation of Dividends. Dividends, including dividends in kind, paid by us to the depository in respect of the preferred shares underlying the ADSs or to a Non-Brazilian Holder in respect of preferred shares generally will not be subject to Brazilian income withholding tax. Dividends relating to profits generated prior to December 31, 1995 are subject to a Brazilian withholding tax of 15% to 25% according to the tax legislation applicable to each corresponding year. As from January 1, 1996, stock dividends relating to profits are also not subject to withholding tax in Brazil.

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      Taxation of Gains. Gains realized outside Brazil by a non-Brazilian holder on the disposition of ADSs to another non-Brazilian holder are not subject to Brazilian tax. According to Law No. 10,833, enacted on December 29, 2003, or Law No. 10,833, the disposition of assets located in Brazil by a non-Brazilian holder, whether to other non-Brazilian holders or Brazilian holders, may become subject to taxation in Brazil. Although we believe that the ADSs do not fall within the definition of assets located in Brazil for purposes of Law No. 10,833, considering the general and unclear scope of such provisions and the lack of a judicial court ruling in respect thereto, we are unable to predict whether such understanding will ultimately prevail in the courts of Brazil.
      For purposes of Brazilian taxation, there are two types of Non-Brazilian Holders of preferred shares or ADSs: (a) Non-Brazilian Holders that are not resident or domiciled in a tax haven jurisdiction (i.e., a country or location that does not impose income tax or where the maximum income tax rate is lower than 20% or where the internal legislation imposes restrictions to disclosure of shareholding composition or the ownership of the investment), and that, in the case of holders of preferred shares, are registered before the Central Bank and the CVM to invest in Brazil in accordance with Resolution No. 2,689; and (b) other Non-Brazilian Holders, which include any and all non-residents of Brazil who invest in equity securities of Brazilian companies through any other means and all types of investor that are located in tax haven jurisdiction. The investors mentioned in item (a) above are subject to a favorable tax regime in Brazil, as described below.
      The deposit of preferred shares in exchange for ADSs may be subject to Brazilian tax on capital gains at the rate of 15%, or 25% in the case of investors domiciled in a tax haven jurisdiction, if the amount previously registered with the Central Bank as a foreign investment in the preferred shares is lower than (a) the average price per preferred share on a Brazilian stock exchange on which the greatest number of such shares were sold on the day of deposit; or (b) if no preferred shares were sold on that day, the average price on the Brazilian stock exchange on which the greatest number of preferred shares were sold in the 15 trading sessions immediately preceding such deposit. In such case, the difference between the amount previously registered and the average price of the preferred shares calculated as above will be considered to be a capital gain. Such taxation is not applicable in case of investors registered under Resolution No. 2,689 which are not located in a tax haven jurisdiction, which are currently tax exempt from income tax in such transaction.
      The withdrawal of ADSs in exchange for preferred shares is not subject to Brazilian tax. Upon receipt of the underlying preferred shares, a Non-Brazilian Holder registered under Resolution No. 2,689 will be entitled to register the U.S. dollar value of such shares with the Central Bank as described below.
      As a general rule, Non-Brazilian Holders registered under Resolution No. 2,689 which are not located in a tax haven jurisdiction are subject to income tax at a rate of 15% on gains realized on sales or exchanges of preferred shares outside a Brazilian stock exchange. With reference to proceeds of a redemption or of a liquidating distribution with respect to the preferred shares, the difference between the amount effectively received by the shareholder and the amount of the corresponding acquisition cost of the preferred shares redeemed or liquidated will be also subject to income tax at a rate of 15% once such transactions are treated as a sale or exchange not carried out on a Brazilian stock exchange. Gains realized arising from transactions on a Brazilian stock exchange by an investor registered under Resolution No. 2,689 which is not located in a tax haven jurisdiction are exempt from Brazilian income tax. This preferential treatment under Resolution No. 2,689 does not apply to Non-Brazilian Holders of the preferred shares or ADSs that are resident in a tax haven jurisdiction in accordance with Law No. 9,959 of January 27, 2000, in which case gains realized on transactions performed by such holder on the Brazilian stock exchange are subject to the tax rate that is applicable to a Brazilian resident. Pursuant to Law No. 11,033 of December 21, 2004, the rate applicable to Brazilian residents in transactions entered into as of January 1, 2005 was established at 15%, being also subject to a withholding tax of 0.005% (to be offset against tax due on eventual capital gains).
      Therefore, non-Brazilian Holders are subject to income tax at a rate of 15% on gains realized on sales or exchanges in Brazil of preferred shares that occur on a Brazilian stock exchange, unless such sale is made by a Non-Brazilian Holder which is not resident in a tax haven jurisdiction, and (a) such a sale is made within five business days of the withdrawal of such preferred shares in exchange for ADSs and the proceeds of such sale

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are remitted abroad within such five-day period, or (b) such a sale is made under Resolution No. 2,689 by Non-Brazilian Holders which register with the CVM. In these two cases the transaction will be tax exempt.
      The “gain realized” as a result of a transaction on a Brazilian stock exchange is the difference between the amount in Brazilian currency realized on the sale or exchange of the shares and their acquisition cost, without any correction for inflation. The “gain realized” as a result of a transaction that occurs other than on a Brazilian stock exchange, with shares that are registered under a certificate of registration of investment (other than under Resolution No. 2,689), will be calculated based on the foreign currency amount registered with the Central Bank, which will be translated into reais at the commercial market rate as of the date of such sale or exchange. There can be no assurance that the current preferential treatment for holders of ADSs and Non-Brazilian Holders of preferred shares under Resolution No. 2,689 will continue or will not be changed in the future.
      Any exercise of preemptive rights relating to the preferred shares or ADSs will not be subject to Brazilian taxation. Any gain on the sale or assignment of preemptive rights relating to preferred shares by the depositary on behalf of holders of ADSs will be subject to Brazilian income taxation according to the same rules applicable to the sale or disposition of preferred shares.
      Distributions of Interest Attributable to Shareholders’ Equity. In accordance with Law No. 9,249, dated December 26, 1995, as amended, Brazilian corporations may make payments to shareholders characterized as distributions of interest on the company’s shareholders’ equity. Such interest is calculated by reference to the TJLP as determined by the Central Bank from time to time and cannot exceed the greater of:
  50% of net income (after social contribution on profits and before taking such distribution and any deductions for corporate income tax into account) for the period in respect of which the payment is made; or
 
  50% of the sum of retained profits and profits reserves.
      Distributions of interest on shareholders’ equity in respect of the preferred shares paid to shareholders who are either Brazilian residents or Non-Brazilian Residents, including holders of ADSs, are subject to Brazilian income withholding tax at the rate of 15%, or 25% in case of shareholders domiciled in a tax haven jurisdiction, and shall be deductible by us as long as the payment of a distribution of interest is approved by our shareholders. The distribution of interest on shareholders’ equity may be determined by our board of directors. We cannot assure you that our board of directors will not determine that future distributions of profits may be made by means of interest on shareholders’ equity instead of by means of dividends.
      The amounts paid as distribution of interest on shareholders’ equity are deductible for corporation income tax and social contribution on profit, both of which are taxes levied on our profits, as far as the limits and rules described above are observed by us.
Other Relevant Brazilian Taxes
      There are no Brazilian inheritance, gift or succession taxes applicable to the ownership, transfer or disposition of preferred shares or ADSs by a Non-Brazilian Holder except for gift and inheritance taxes which are levied by some states of Brazil on gifts made or inheritances bestowed by individuals or entities not resident or domiciled in Brazil or domiciled within the state to individuals or entities resident or domiciled within such state in Brazil. There are no Brazilian stamp, issue, registration or similar taxes or duties payable by holders of preferred shares or ADSs.
      Pursuant to Decree 4,494 of December 3, 2002, the conversion into foreign currency or the conversion into Brazilian currency of the proceeds received by a Brazilian entity from a foreign investment in the Brazilian securities market, including those in connection with the investment in the preferred shares and ADSs and those made under Resolution No. 2,689, is potentially subject to an exchange transactions tax (Imposto Sobre Operações Financeiras— IOF/ Câmbio), although at present the rate of such tax is generally zero percent. Under Law No. 8,894 of June 21, 1994, or Law No. 8,894, such IOF tax rate may be increased

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at any time to a maximum of 25%, but any such increase will only be applicable to transactions occurring after such increase becomes effective.
      Law No. 8,894 creates the Tax on Bonds and Securities Transactions (IOF/ Títulos), which may be imposed on any transactions involving bonds and securities effected in Brazil, even if the transactions are performed on a Brazilian stock exchange. As a general rule, the rate of this tax is currently zero but the executive branch may increase such rate up to 1.5% per day, but only with respect to future transactions.
      Financial transfers are taxed by the Contribuição Provisória sobre Movimentação Financeira, or CPMF, at a rate of 0.38%. The CPMF is levied upon the remittance of proceeds on the amount converted in reais of the transaction and is required to be withheld by the financial institution that carries out the transaction. Currently, the funds transferred from a bank account to acquire shares on the Brazilian stock exchange are exempt from CPMF. The funds transferred abroad resulting from the disposal of the shares on the Brazilian stock exchange are also exempt from CPMF.
      Registered Capital. The amount of an investment in preferred shares held by a Non-Brazilian Holder who qualifies under Resolution No. 2,689 and obtains registration with the CVM, or by the depositary, as the depositary representing such holder, is eligible for registration with the Central Bank. Such registration allows the remittance outside of Brazil of any proceeds of distributions on the shares, and amounts realized with respect to disposition of such shares. The amounts received in Brazilian currency are converted into foreign currency through the use of the commercial market rate. The registered capital for preferred shares purchased in the form of ADSs or purchased in Brazil, and deposited with the depositary in exchange for ADSs will be equal to their purchase price (in U.S. dollars) to the purchaser. The registered capital for preferred shares that are withdrawn upon surrender of ADSs, as applicable, will be the U.S. dollar equivalent of the average price of preferred shares, as applicable, on a Brazilian stock exchange on which the greatest number of such preferred shares, as applicable, was sold on the day of withdrawal. If no preferred shares, as applicable, were sold on such day, the registered capital will refer to the average price on the Brazilian stock exchange on which the greatest number of preferred shares, as applicable, were sold in the 15 trading sessions immediately preceding such withdrawal. The U.S. dollar value of the preferred shares, as applicable, is determined on the basis of the average commercial market rate quoted by the Central Bank on such date or, if the average price of preferred shares is determined under the last preceding sentence, the average of such average quoted rates on the same 15 dates used to determine the average price of the preferred shares.
      A Non-Brazilian Holder of preferred shares may experience delays in effecting such action, which may delay remittances abroad. Such a delay may adversely affect the amount, in U.S. dollars, received by the Non-Brazilian Holder.
Material United States Federal Income Tax Consequences
      The following discussion, in the opinion of Shearman & Sterling LLP, and subject to the limitations herein, describes the material United States federal income tax consequences of purchasing, holding and disposing of our preferred shares or ADSs. This discussion applies only to beneficial owners of ADSs or preferred shares that are “U.S. Holders,” as defined below. This discussion is based on the U.S. Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended, or the Code, its legislative history, existing final, temporary and proposed Treasury Regulations, administrative pronouncements by the United States Internal Revenue Service, or IRS, and judicial decisions, all as currently in effect and all of which are subject to change (possibly on a retroactive basis) and to different interpretations.
      This discussion does not purport to address all United States federal income tax consequences that may be relevant to a particular holder and you are urged to consult your own tax advisor regarding your specific tax situation. The discussion applies only to U.S. Holders who hold preferred shares or ADSs as “capital assets” (generally, property held for investment) under the Code and does not address the tax consequences that may be relevant to U.S. Holders in special tax situations including, for example:
  insurance companies;
 
  tax-exempt organizations;

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  broker-dealers;
 
  traders in securities that elect to mark to market;
 
  banks or other financial institutions;
 
  holders whose functional currency is not the United States dollar;
 
  United States expatriates;
 
  holders that hold our preferred shares or ADSs as part of a hedge, straddle or conversion transaction; or
 
  holders that own, directly, indirectly, or constructively, 10% or more of the total combined voting power, if any, of our preferred shares or ADSs.
      Except where specifically described below, this discussion assumes that we are not a passive foreign investment company, or PFIC, for United States federal income tax purposes. Please see the discussion under “—Taxation of U.S. Holders— Passive Foreign Investment Company Rules” below. Further, this discussion does not address the alternative minimum tax consequences of holding preferred shares or ADSs or the indirect consequences to holders of equity interests in partnerships or other entities that own our preferred shares or ADSs. In addition, this discussion does not address the state, local and foreign tax consequences of holding our preferred shares or ADSs.
      You should consult your own tax advisor regarding the United States federal, state, local and foreign income and other tax consequences of purchasing, owning, and disposing of our preferred shares or ADSs in your particular circumstances.
      You are a “U.S. Holder” if you are a beneficial owner of preferred shares or ADSs and you are for United States federal income tax purposes:
  an individual who is a citizen or resident of the United States;
 
  a corporation, or any other entity taxable as a corporation, created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any state thereof, including the District of Columbia;
 
  an estate the income of which is subject to United States federal income tax regardless of its source; or
 
  a trust if a court within the United States is able to exercise primary supervision over its administration and one or more United States persons have the authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust (or otherwise if the trust has a valid election in effect under current Treasury regulations to be treated as a United States person).
      If a partnership holds preferred shares or ADSs, the tax treatment of a partner will generally depend upon the status of the partner and upon the activities of the partnership. A prospective investor who is a partner of a partnership holding our preferred shares or ADSs should consult its own tax advisor.
      For United States federal income tax purposes, a U.S. Holder of an ADS will be treated as the beneficial owner of the preferred shares represented by the ADS.
Distributions on preferred shares or ADSs
      Cash distributions (including amounts withheld to pay Brazilian withholding taxes and distributions of notional interest charges on shareholders’ equity, but excluding distributions in redemption of the preferred shares treated as exchanges or sales under the Code) made by us to or for the account of a U.S. Holder with respect to preferred shares or ADSs generally will be taxable to such U.S. Holder as ordinary dividend income when such distribution is paid, actually or constructively, out of our current or accumulated earnings and profits (as determined for United States federal income tax purposes). Distributions in excess of our current or accumulated earnings and profits will be treated first as a non-taxable return of capital reducing such U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the preferred shares or ADSs. Any distribution in excess of such tax basis

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will be treated as capital gain and will be either long-term or short-term capital gain depending upon whether the U.S. Holder held the preferred shares or ADSs for more than one year. As used below, the term “dividend” means a distribution that constitutes a dividend for U.S. federal income tax purposes.
      A U.S. Holder will be entitled, subject to a number of complex limitations and conditions, to claim a United States foreign tax credit in respect of any Brazilian withholding taxes imposed on dividends received on preferred shares or ADSs. U.S. Holders who do not elect to claim a foreign tax credit may instead claim a deduction in respect of such withholding taxes. Dividends received with respect to the preferred shares or ADSs will be treated as foreign source income, which may be relevant in calculating such U.S. Holder’s United States foreign tax credit limitation. Holders are urged to consult their tax advisors regarding the availability of the foreign tax credit in their particular circumstances. The IRS has expressed concern that intermediaries in connection with depository arrangements may be taking actions that are inconsistent with the claiming of foreign tax credits by United States persons who are holding depositary shares. Accordingly, investors should be aware that the discussion above regarding the ability to credit Brazilian withholding tax on dividends could be affected by future action taken by the IRS.
      Dividends paid by us generally will not be eligible for the dividends received deduction available under the Code to certain United States corporation shareholders. Subject to certain exceptions for short-term and hedged positions, the U.S. dollar amount of dividends received by certain U.S. Holders (including individuals) prior to January 1, 2009 with respect to the ADSs will be subject to taxation at a maximum rate of 15% if the dividends represent “qualified dividend income.” Dividends paid on the ADSs will be treated as qualified dividend income if (i) the ADSs are readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States and (ii) we were not in the year prior to the year in which the dividend was paid, and are not in the year in which the dividend is paid a passive foreign investment company (“PFIC”). Our ADSs are listed on the New York Stock Exchange, and therefore the ADSs will qualify as readily tradable on an established securities market in the United States so long as they are so listed. However, no assurances can be given that the ADSs will be or remain readily tradable. Subject to the discussion of passive foreign investment company rules below, based upon the nature of our current and projected income, assets and activities, we do not believe the preferred shares or the ADSs have been, nor do we expect them to be, shares of a PFIC for United States federal income tax purposes.
      Based on existing guidance, it is not entirely clear whether dividends received with respect to the preferred shares will be treated as qualified dividends, because the preferred shares are not themselves listed on a United States exchange. In addition, the United States Treasury Department has announced its intention to promulgate rules pursuant to which holders of ADSs or preferred stock and intermediaries through whom such securities are held will be permitted to rely on certifications from issuers to establish that dividends are treated as qualified dividends. Because such procedures have not yet been issued, we are not certain that we will be able to comply with them. U.S. Holders of ADSs and preferred shares should consult their own tax advisers regarding the availability of the reduced dividend tax rate in the light of their own particular circumstances.
      The amount of any cash distribution paid in Brazilian currency will equal the U.S. dollar value of the distribution, calculated by reference to the exchange rate in effect at the time the distribution is received by the depositary (in the case of ADSs) or by the U.S. Holder (in the case of preferred shares held directly by such U.S. Holder), regardless of whether the payment is in fact converted to U.S. dollars at that time. A U.S. Holder should not recognize any foreign currency gain or loss in respect of such distribution if such Brazilian currency is converted into U.S. dollars on the date received. If the Brazilian currency is not converted into U.S. dollars on the date of receipt, however, gain or loss may be recognized upon a subsequent sale or other disposition of the Brazilian currency. Such foreign currency gain or loss, if any, will be United States source ordinary income or loss.
      Because our preferred shares will not be treated as “preferred stock” for purposes of Section 305 of the Code, distributions to U.S. Holders of additional shares of our “non-preferred stock” or preemptive rights relating to such “non-preferred stock” with respect to their preferred shares or ADSs that are made as part of

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a pro rata distribution to all shareholders in most instances will not be subject to United States federal income tax.
Sale or exchange of shares or ADSs
      Deposits and withdrawals of preferred shares by U.S. Holders in exchange for ADSs will not result in the realization of gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes.
      A U.S. Holder generally will recognize capital gain or loss upon the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of preferred shares or ADSs measured by the difference between the amount realized and the U.S. Holder’s adjusted tax basis in the preferred shares or ADSs. Any gain or loss will be long-term capital gain or loss if the preferred shares or ADSs have been held for more than one year. Long-term capital gains of certain U.S. holders (including individuals) are eligible for reduced rates of United States federal income taxation. The deductibility of capital losses is subject to certain limitations under the Code.
      If a Brazilian tax is withheld on the sale or other disposition of a preferred share or ADS, the amount realized by a U.S. Holder will include the gross amount of the proceeds of that sale or other disposition before deduction of the Brazilian tax. Capital gain or loss, if any, realized by a U.S. Holder on the sale, exchange or other taxable disposition of a preferred share or ADS generally will be treated as United States source income or loss for United States foreign tax credit purposes. Consequently, in the case of a disposition of a preferred share that is subject to Brazilian tax imposed on the gain (or, in the case of a deposit, in exchange for an ADS or preferred share, as the case may be, that is not registered pursuant to Resolution No. 2,689, on which a Brazilian capital gains tax is imposed (see “—Taxation of Gains”)), the U.S. Holder may not be able to benefit from the foreign tax credit for that Brazilian tax unless the U.S. Holder can apply the credit against United States federal income tax payable on other income from foreign sources in the appropriate income category. Alternatively, the U.S. Holder may take a deduction for the Brazilian tax.
Passive foreign investment company rules
      In general, a foreign corporation is a PFIC with respect to a U.S. Holder if, for any taxable year in which the U.S. Holder holds stock in the foreign corporation, at least 75% of its gross income is passive income or at least 50% of the value of its assets (determined on the basis of a quarterly average) produce passive income or are held for the production of passive income. For this purpose, passive income generally includes, among other things, dividends, interest, rents, royalties and gains from the disposition of investment assets (subject to various exceptions). Based upon the nature of our current and projected income, assets and activities, we do not believe the preferred shares or ADSs are, nor do we expect them to be, shares of a PFIC for United States federal income tax purposes. However, the determination of whether the preferred shares or ADSs constitute shares of a PFIC is a factual determination made annually and thus may be subject to change. Because these determinations are based on the nature of our income and assets from time to time, and involve the application of complex tax rules, no assurances can be provided that we will not be considered a PFIC for the current or any past or future tax year.
      If, contrary to the discussion above, we are treated as a PFIC, a U.S. Holder would be subject to special rules (and may be subject to increased tax liability and form filing requirements) with respect to (a) any gain realized on the sale or other disposition of preferred shares or ADSs, and (b) any “excess distribution” made by us to the U.S. Holder (generally, any distribution during a taxable year in which distributions to the U.S. Holder on the preferred shares or ADSs exceed 125% of the average annual distributions the U.S. Holder received on the preferred shares or ADSs during the preceding three taxable years or, if shorter, the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the preferred shares or ADSs). Under those rules, (a) the gain or excess distribution would be allocated ratably over the U.S. Holder’s holding period for the preferred shares or ADSs, (b) the amount allocated to the taxable year in which the gain or excess distribution is realized and to taxable years before the first day on which we became a PFIC would be taxable as ordinary income, (c) the amount allocated to each prior year in which we were a PFIC would be subject to United States federal income tax at the highest tax rate in effect for that year and (d) the interest charge generally applicable to underpayments of

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United States federal income tax would be imposed in respect of the tax attributable to each prior year in which we were a PFIC.
      A U.S. Holder who owns preferred shares or ADSs during any taxable year we are a PFIC must file IRS Form 8621. In general, if we are treated as a PFIC, the rules described above can be avoided by a U.S. Holder that elects to be subject to a mark-to-market regime for stock in a PFIC. A U.S. Holder may elect mark-to-market treatment for its preferred shares or ADSs, provided the preferred shares or ADSs, for purposes of the rules, constitute “marketable stock” as defined in Treasury Regulations. A U.S. Holder electing the mark-to-market regime generally would compute gain or loss at the end of each taxable year as if the preferred shares or ADSs had been sold at fair market value. Any gain recognized by the U.S. Holder under mark-to-market treatment, or on an actual sale, would be treated as ordinary income, and the U.S. Holder would be allowed an ordinary deduction for any decrease in the value of preferred shares or ADSs as of the end of any taxable year, and for any loss recognized on an actual sale, but only to the extent, in each case, of previously included market-to-market income not offset by previously deducted decreases in value. Any loss on an actual sale of preferred shares or ADSs would be a capital loss to the extent in excess of previously included mark-to-market income not offset by previously deducted decreases in value. A U.S. Holder’s tax basis in preferred shares or ADSs would increase or decrease by gain or loss taken into account under the mark-to-market regime. A market-to-market election is generally irrevocable.
      If we are deemed to be a PFIC for a taxable year, dividends on our ADSs would not be “qualified dividend income” subject to preferential rates of Unites States federal income tax, as described above. See “Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences— Distributions on preferred shares or ADSs.”
Backup withholding and information reporting
      In general, dividends on preferred shares or ADSs, and payments of the proceeds of a sale, exchange or other disposition of preferred shares or ADSs, paid within the United States or through certain United States-related financial intermediaries to a U.S. Holder are subject to information reporting and may be subject to backup withholding at a current maximum rate of 28% unless the holder (i) is a corporation or other exempt recipient or (ii) provides an accurate taxpayer identification number and certifies that no loss of exemption from backup withholding has occurred.
      You generally may obtain a refund of any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules that exceed your United States federal income tax liability by filing a refund claim with the IRS. The amount of any backup withholding tax from a payment to a U.S. Holder will be allowed as a credit against the U.S. Holder’s United States federal income tax liability, provided that the required information is furnished to the IRS.

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UNDERWRITERS
      Under the terms and subject to the conditions contained in an underwriting agreement dated the date of this prospectus, the international underwriters named below, for whom Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated is acting as representative, have severally agreed to purchase, and we and the selling shareholder have agreed to sell to them, severally, the number of ADSs indicated below:
           
Name   Number of ADSs
     
Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
    2,793,000  
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated
    1,396,500  
Raymond James & Associates, Inc. 
    837,900  
Santander Investment Securities Inc. 
    558,600  
       
 
Total
    5,586,000  
      We have also entered into a Brazilian underwriting agreement with Banco Morgan Stanley Dean Witter S.A., Banco Santander Brasil S.A. and Banco Itaú BBA S.A., providing for the concurrent offer and sale of 3,528,000 preferred shares in a public offering in Brazil.
      The international underwriters and the Brazilian underwriters have entered into an intersyndicate agreement providing for the coordination of their activities. Under the intersyndicate agreement, the international underwriters and the Brazilian underwriters are permitted to purchase and sell preferred shares among each other and may also engage in stabilization activities. Under the terms of the intersyndicate agreement:
  the international underwriters, and any bank, broker or dealer to whom they sell ADSs, will not offer to sell or resell ADSs to any person whom they believe to be a Brazilian person or to any person whom they believe intends to resell ADSs to a Brazilian person; and
 
  the Brazilian underwriters, and any bank, broker or dealer to whom they sell preferred shares, will offer to sell or resell preferred shares only to persons whom they believe to be Brazilian persons and to persons whom they believe intend to resell preferred shares only to Brazilian persons.
      The closing of this offering and the Brazilian offering are conditioned upon one another.
      The international underwriters are offering our ADSs subject to their acceptance of the ADSs from us and the selling shareholder and subject to prior sale. The underwriting agreement provides that the obligations of the several international underwriters to pay for and accept delivery of the ADSs offered by this prospectus are subject to the approval of certain legal matters by their counsel and to certain other conditions. The international underwriters are obligated to take and pay for all of our ADSs offered by this prospectus if any of such ADSs are taken. However, the international underwriters are not required to take or pay for the ADSs covered by the international underwriters’ over-allotment option described below.
      The per ADS price of ADSs sold by the international underwriters shall be the public offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus, in United States dollars, less an amount not greater than the per ADS amount of the concession to dealers described below.
      The international underwriters initially propose to offer part of our ADSs directly to the public at the public offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus and part to certain dealers at a price that represents a concession not in excess of US$0.725 an ADS, less than the public offering price. After the initial offering of our ADSs, the offering price and other selling terms may from time to time be varied by the representatives.
      We have granted to the underwriters an option, exercisable for 30 days from the date of this prospectus, to purchase up to an aggregate of 2,205,000 additional preferred shares at the public offering price listed on the cover page of this prospectus, less underwriting discounts and commissions. The underwriters may exercise this option solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments, if any, made in connection with the offering of

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the ADSs offered by this prospectus, of which no more than 15% of the ADSs sold by the underwriters that are NASD members will be used to cover over-allotments sold by those members. To the extent the option is exercised, each underwriter will become obligated, subject to certain conditions, to purchase approximately the same percentage of the additional preferred shares as the number of preferred shares they are purchasing in this offering, without accounting for the over-allotment option, bears to the total number of preferred shares being offered. If the underwriters’ option is exercised in full, the total price to the public would be US$235,655,700, the total underwriters’ discounts and commissions would be US$9,426,228 and total proceeds to us and the selling shareholder would be US$226,229,472. The underwriting discounts and commissions are subject to a 15% Brazilian withholding tax that will be borne by us and the selling shareholder, respectively.
      The following table shows the per ADS and total underwriting discounts and commissions to be paid by us and the selling shareholder assuming no exercise and full exercise of the over-allotment option.
                         
        No Exercise (On   Full Exercise (On
    Per ADS   an Aggregate Basis)   an Aggregate Basis)
             
Gross proceeds
  $ 27.88     $ 204,918,000     $ 235,655,700  
Underwriting discount
  $ 1.12     $ 8,196,720     $ 9,426,228  
Proceeds, before expenses, to us
  $ 26.76     $ 73,881,701     $ 103,389,893  
Proceeds, before expenses, to selling shareholder
  $ 26.76     $ 122,839,579     $ 122,839,579  
      The international underwriters have informed us that they do not intend sales to discretionary accounts to exceed five percent of the total number of our ADSs offered by them.
      The ADSs trade on the NYSE under the symbol “GOL.” The preferred shares trade on the BOVESPA under the symbol “GOLL4.”
      We, our directors and executive officers and Aeropar Participações S.A., Comporte Participações S.A. and BSSF Air Holdings LLC have agreed that, without the prior written consent of Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated on behalf of the international underwriters, we and they will not, during the period ending 90 days after the date of this prospectus:
  offer, pledge, sell, contract to sell, sell any option or contract to purchase, purchase any option or contract to sell, grant any option, right or warrant to purchase, lend or otherwise transfer or dispose of, directly or indirectly, any of our ADSs or preferred shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our ADSs or preferred shares;
 
  file any registration Statement with the SEC or the CVM relating to the offering of any of our ADSs or preferred shares or any securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for our ADSs or preferred shares; or
 
  enter into any swap or other arrangement that transfers to another person, in whole or in part, any of the economic consequences of ownership of our ADSs or preferred shares
whether any transaction described above is to be settled by delivery of our ADSs or preferred shares or such other securities, in cash or otherwise.
      Notwithstanding the preceding paragraph, if (a) during the last 17 days of the 90-day restricted period, we issue an earnings release, or (b) prior to the expiration of the 90-day restricted period, we announce that we will release earnings results during the 16-day period beginning on the last day of the 90-day period, the restrictions described above shall continue to apply until the expiration of the 18-day period beginning on the date of the issuance of the earnings release.
      The restrictions described in the previous three paragraphs do not apply to:
  the sale of our ADSs or preferred shares to the international underwriters or the Brazilian underwriters;

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  the issuance by us of our ADSs or preferred shares upon the exercise of an option or a warrant or the conversion of a security outstanding on the date of this prospectus of which the international underwriters have been advised in writing; or
 
  transactions by any person other than us and the selling shareholder relating to our ADSs or preferred shares or other securities acquired in open market transactions after the completion of the offering of the ADSs and the preferred shares.
      In order to facilitate the offering of our ADSs, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated may engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of our ADSs. Specifically, the international underwriters may over-allot in connection with the offering, creating a short position in our ADSs for their own account. In addition, to cover over-allotments or to stabilize the price of our ADSs, the international underwriters may bid for, and purchase, our ADSs in the open market. Finally, the international underwriters may reclaim selling concessions allowed to an underwriter or a dealer for distributing our ADSs in the offering, if the syndicate repurchases our previously distributed ADSs in transactions to cover syndicate short positions, in stabilization transactions or otherwise. Any of these activities may stabilize or maintain the market price of our ADSs above independent market levels. Similarly, Banco Morgan Stanley Dean Witter S.A. may, in order to facilitate the offering of our preferred shares in Brazil, engage in transactions that stabilize, maintain or otherwise affect the price of our preferred shares. The underwriters are not required to engage in these activities, and may end any of these activities at any time.
      From time to time, the international underwriters and the Brazilian underwriters have provided, and continue to provide, investment banking and commercial banking services to us.
      We, the selling shareholder and the international underwriters have agreed to indemnify each other against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

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EXPENSES OF THE GLOBAL OFFERING
      We estimate that our expenses in connection with the global offering, other than underwriting discounts and commissions, will be as follows:
                   
        Percentage of
    Amount   Net Proceeds of
Expenses   (in US$)   This Offering(%)
         
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee
    38,575       0.05%  
NYSE listing fees
    60,000       0.08%  
NASD, Inc. filing fee
    33,275       0.05%  
Brazilian fees, including CVM and BOVESPA fees
    60,700       0.08%  
Printing and engraving expenses
    65,000       0.09%  
Legal fees and expenses
    510,000       0.70%  
Accountant fees and expenses
    260,000       0.35%  
Miscellaneous costs
    80,000       0.11%  
             
 
Total
  US$ 1,107,550       1.51%  
             
      All amounts in the table are estimated except the Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee, the NYSE listing fee, the NASD filing fee and the Brazilian CVM and BOVESPA fees. BSSF Air Holdings LLC has agreed to reimburse us for 50% of the expenses in connection with the global offering, other than underwriting discounts and commissions. Underwriting discounts and commissions will be paid by us and BSSF Air Holdings LLC in proportion to the number of shares each is offering in the global offering.
      The depositary has agreed to pay some of these expenses on our behalf, subject to the closing of the global offering.
      The total underwriting discounts and commissions that we are required to pay will be US$3,078,404, or 4.0% of the gross proceeds from the preferred shares we are offering in the global offering.

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VALIDITY OF SECURITIES
      The validity of the ADSs will be passed upon for us by Shearman & Sterling LLP, New York, New York and for the underwriters by Cleary Gottlieb Steen & Hamilton LLP, New York, New York. The validity of the preferred shares and other matters governed by Brazilian law will be passed upon for us by Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga Advogados, São Paulo, Brazil. Certain matters of Brazilian law will be passed upon for the underwriters by Souza, Cescon, Avedissian, Barrieu & Flesch Advogados, São Paulo, Brazil.
EXPERTS
      Ernst & Young Auditores Independentes S.S., independent auditors, have audited our consolidated financial statements at December 31, 2004 and 2003, and for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004, as set forth in their report. We have included our consolidated financial statements in this prospectus and elsewhere in the registration statement in reliance on Ernst & Young Auditores Independentes S.S.’s report, given on their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.
WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION
      We have filed with the Commission a registration statement (including amendments and exhibits to the registration statement) on Form F-1 under the Securities Act. This prospectus, which is part of the registration statement, does not contain all of the information set forth in the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules to the registration statement. For further information, we refer you to the registration statement and the exhibits and schedules filed as part of the registration statement. If a document has been filed as an exhibit to the registration statement, we refer you to the copy of the document that has been filed. Each statement in this prospectus relating to a document filed as an exhibit is qualified in all respects by the filed exhibit.
      We are subject to the informational requirements of the U.S. Securities Exchange Act of 1934, which is also known as the Exchange Act. Accordingly, we are required to file reports and other information with the Commission, including annual reports on Form 20-F and reports on Form 6-K. You may inspect and copy reports and other information to be filed with the Commission at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington D.C. 20549 and at the Commission’s regional offices at 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago Illinois 60661, and 233 Broadway, New York, New York 10279. Copies of the materials may be obtained from the Public Reference Room of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates. The public may obtain information on the operation of the Commission’s Public Reference Room by calling the Commission in the United States at 1-800-SEC-0330. In addition, the Commission maintains an internet website at http://www.sec.gov, from which you can electronically access the registration statement and its materials.
      As a foreign private issuer, we are not subject to the same disclosure requirements as a domestic U.S. registrant under the Exchange Act. For example, we are not required to prepare and issue quarterly reports. However, we furnish our shareholders with annual reports containing financial statements audited by our independent auditors and make available to our shareholders quarterly reports containing unaudited financial data for the first three quarters of each fiscal year. We file quarterly financial statements with the Commission within two months of the end of the first three quarters of our fiscal year, and we file annual reports on Form 20-F within the time period required by the Commission, which is currently six months from December 31, the end of our fiscal year.
      We will send the depositary a copy of all notices that we give relating to meetings of our shareholders or to distributions to shareholders or the offering of rights and a copy of any other report or communication that we make generally available to our shareholders. The depositary will make all these notices, reports and communications that it receives from us available for inspection by registered holders of ADSs at its office. The depositary will mail copies of those notices, reports and communications to you if we ask the depositary to do so and furnish sufficient copies of materials for that purpose.

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      We also file financial statements and other periodic reports with the CVM located at Rua Sete de Setembro, 111, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro 20159-900, Brazil.
ENFORCEMENT OF JUDGMENTS AGAINST FOREIGN PERSONS
      We are incorporated under the laws of Brazil. BSSF Air Holdings LLC was formed under the laws of the state of Delaware. Substantially all of our assets and those of the selling shareholder are located outside the United States. The majority of our directors and all our officers and certain advisors named herein reside in Brazil. As a result, it may not be possible for investors to effect service of process within the United States upon such persons or to enforce against them or us in United States courts judgments predicated upon the civil liability provisions of the federal securities laws of the United States.
      We have been advised by our Brazilian counsel, Mattos Filho, Veiga Filho, Marrey Jr. e Quiroga Advogados, that judgments of United States courts for civil liabilities based upon the federal securities laws of the United States may be, subject to the requirements described below, enforced in Brazil. A judgment against us, the selling shareholder or the persons described above obtained outside Brazil would be enforceable in Brazil without reconsideration of the merits, upon confirmation of that judgment by the Brazilian Superior Court of Justice. That confirmation will occur if the foreign judgment:
  fulfills all formalities required for its enforceability under the laws of the country where the foreign judgment is granted,
 
  is issued by a competent court after proper service of process is made in accordance with Brazilian law,
 
  is not subject to appeal,
 
  is for the payment of a sum certain,
 
  is authenticated by a Brazilian consular office in the country where the foreign judgment is issued and is accompanied by a sworn translation into Portuguese, and
 
  is not contrary to Brazilian national sovereignty, public policy or public morality.
      We cannot assure you that the confirmation process described above will be conducted in a timely manner or that Brazilian courts would enforce a monetary judgment for violation of the United States securities laws with respect to the ADSs and the preferred shares represented thereby.
      We have been further advised by our Brazilian counsel that:
  original actions based on the federal securities laws of the United States may be brought in Brazilian courts and that, subject to applicable law, Brazilian courts may enforce liabilities in such actions against us, our directors, our executive officers, the selling shareholder and the advisors named in this prospectus; and
 
  the ability of a judgment creditor or the other persons named above to satisfy a judgment by attaching certain assets of ours or any of the selling shareholder, respectively, is limited by provisions of Brazilian law.
      A plaintiff (whether Brazilian or non-Brazilian) residing outside Brazil during the course of litigation in Brazil must provide a bond to guarantee court costs and legal fees if the plaintiff owns no real property in Brazil that could secure such payment. The bond must have a value sufficient to satisfy the payment of court fees and defendant’s attorney fees, as determined by the Brazilian judge. This requirement does not apply to the enforcement of foreign judgments which have been duly confirmed by the Brazilian Superior Court of Justice.

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INDEX TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
         
Report of Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm
    F-2  
Consolidated Balance Sheets
    F-3  
Consolidated Statements of Income
    F-5  
Consolidated Statements of Cash Flows
    F-6  
Consolidated Statements of Shareholders’ Equity
    F-7  
Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements
    F-8  

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REPORT OF INDEPENDENT REGISTERED PUBLIC ACCOUNTING FIRM
The Board of Directors and Shareholders
Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A.
      We have audited the accompanying consolidated balance sheets of Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. (formerly known as Gol Transportes Aéreos S.A.) and subsidiaries as of December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the related consolidated statements of income, shareholders’ equity and cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004. These financial statements are the responsibility of the Company’s management. Our responsibility is to express an opinion on these financial statements based on our audits.
      We conducted our audits in accordance with the standards of the Public Company Accounting Oversight Board (United States). Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain reasonable assurance about whether the financial statements are free of material misstatement. We were not engaged to perform an audit of the Company’s internal controls over financial reporting. An audit includes consideration of internal control over financial reporting as a basis for designing audit procedures that are appropriate in the circumstances, but not for the purpose of expressing an opinion on the effectiveness of the Company’s internal control over financial reporting. Accordingly, we express no such opinion. An audit also includes examining, on a test basis, evidence supporting the amounts and disclosures in the financial statements, assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates made by management, and evaluating the overall financial statement presentation. We believe that our audits provide a reasonable basis for our opinion.
      In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements referred to above present fairly, in all material respects, the financial position of Gol Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. and subsidiaries at December 31, 2004 and 2003, and the consolidated results of their operations and their cash flows for each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 2004, in conformity with U.S. generally accepted accounting principles.
Ernst & Young Auditores Independentes S.S.
CRC-2SP015199/ O-1
     
Adilson Birolli Gonzalez
  Maria Helena Pettersson
Partner
  Partner
São Paulo, Brazil
February 22, 2005

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GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES S.A.
CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
December 31, 2004 and 2003
(In thousands of Brazilian Reais)
                             
            Translation
            into thousands
            of US$
    2003   2004   2004
             
ASSETS
                       
Current assets
                       
 
Cash and cash equivalents
  R $146,291     R $405,730     US$ 152,852  
 
Short-term investments
          443,361       167,029  
 
Receivables, less allowance (2003—R$3,760;
2004—R$3,547, US$1,336)
    240,576       386,370       145,558  
 
Inventories
    13,570       21,038       7,926  
 
Recoverable taxes and current deferred tax
    20,118       10,657       4,015  
 
Prepaid expenses
    12,043       34,184       12,878  
 
Other current assets
    3,812       3,389       1,277  
                   
   
Total current assets
  R $436,410     R $1,304,729     US$ 491,535  
Property and equipment
                       
 
Pre-delivery deposits
          43,447       16,368  
 
Flight equipment
    75,514       102,197       38,501  
 
Other property and equipment
    14,463       29,703       11,190  
                   
      89,977       175,347       66,059  
 
Less accumulated depreciation
    (22,795 )     (43,989 )     (16,572 )
                   
   
Property and equipment, net
    67,182       131,358       49,487  
Other assets
                       
 
Deposits for aircraft leasing contracts
    18,621       22,884       8,621  
 
Prepaid aircraft and engine maintenance
    162,295       266,532       100,411  
 
Other
    511       8,781       3,307  
                   
   
Total other assets
    181,427       298,197       112,339  
                   
   
Total assets
  R $685,019     R $1,734,284     US$ 653,361  
                   
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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            Translation
            into thousands
            of US$
    2003   2004   2004
             
LIABILITIES AND SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
                       
Current liabilities
                       
Accounts payable
  R$ 48,605     R$ 36,436     US$ 13,727  
Air traffic liability
    123,393       159,891       60,236  
Payroll and related charges
    34,959       51,041       19,229  
Operating leases payable
    10,099       10,107       3,808  
Short-term borrowings
    38,906       118,349       44,586  
Sales tax and landing fees
    21,200       51,515       19,407  
Insurance premium payable
    64       24,060       9,064  
Dividends payable
    26,504       60,676       22,858  
Other current liabilities
    4,597       5,739       2,162  
                   
   
Total current liabilities
  R$ 308,327     R$ 517,814     US$ 195,077  
Other liabilities
                       
Long-term vendor payable
          9,238       3,480  
Deferred income taxes, net
    47,236       44,493       16,762  
Provisions for contingencies
    8,570       10,351       3,900  
Other liabilities
    6,147       3,935       1,482  
                   
    R$ 61,953     R$ 68,017     US$ 25,624  
Commitments and Contingences
                       
Shareholders’ equity
                       
Preferred shares, Class A and Class B, no par value, 52,592,985 shares, issued and outstanding in 2003; 78,094,747 undesignated preferred shares, no par value, issued and outstanding at December 31, 2004
    94,200       564,634       212,716  
Common shares, no par value, 116,200,000 shares, issued and outstanding in 2003 and 109,448,497 shares, no par value, issued and outstanding at December 31, 2004
    41,500       41,500       15,634  
Additional paid in capital
          49,305       18,575  
Deferred compensation expenses
          (10,059 )     (3,790 )
Appropriated retained earnings
    5,579       18,352       6,914  
Unappropriated retained earnings
    173,460       484,721       182,611  
                   
 
Total shareholders’ equity
  R$ 314,739     R$ 1,148,453     US$ 432,660  
                   
 
Total liabilities and shareholders’ equity
  R$ 685,019     R$ 1,734,284     US$ 653,361  
                   
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES S.A.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
Years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
(In Thousands of Brazilian Reais, except per share amounts)
                                     
                Translation
                into thousands
                of US$
    2002   2003   2004   2004
                 
Net operating revenues
                               
 
Passenger
  R$ 643,549     R$ 1,339,191     R$ 1,875,475     US$ 706,553  
 
Cargo and Other
    34,330       61,399       85,411       32,177  
                         
Total net operating revenues
    677,879       1,400,590       1,960,886       738,730  
Operating expenses
                               
 
Salaries, wages and benefits
    77,855       137,638       183,037       68,956  
 
Aircraft fuel
    160,537       308,244       459,192       172,993  
 
Aircraft rent
    130,755       188,841       195,504       73,653  
 
Aircraft insurance
    23,186       25,850       25,575       9,635  
 
Sales and marketing
    96,626       191,280       261,756       98,612  
 
Landing fees
    32,758       47,924       57,393       21,622  
 
Aircraft and traffic servicing
    47,381       58,710       74.825       28.189  
 
Maintenance materials and repairs
    16,160       42,039       51,796       19,513  
 
Depreciation
    7,885       13,844       21,242       8,003  
 
Other operating expenses
    22,654       44,494       54,265       20,443  
                         
   
Total operating expenses
    615,797       1,058,864       1,384,585       521,619  
Operating income
    62,082       341,726       576,301       217,111  
Other expense
                               
 
Interest expense
    (16,530 )     (20,910 )     (13,445 )     (5,065 )
 
Capitalized interest
                3,216       1,212  
 
Exchange variation gain (loss)
    8,943       (16,938 )     (5,926 )     (2,233 )
 
Gain (loss) on derivatives
    5,599       (29,876 )     2,432       916  
 
Financial income on cash equivalents
          1,815       34,159       12,869  
 
Other
    (7,095 )     (11,682 )     (9,457 )     (3,564 )
                         
Income before income taxes
    52,999       264,135       587,280       221,247  
Income taxes current
    (1,396 )     (60,747 )     (165,710 )     (62,428 )
Income taxes deferred
    (16,246 )     (27,929 )     (36,860 )     (13,886 )
                         
Net income
  R$ 35,357     R$ 175,459     R$ 384,710     US$ 144,933  
                         
Earnings per share:
                               
Earnings per share, basic
    0.36       1.07       2.14       0.81  
Earnings per share, diluted
    0.36       1.07       2.13       0.80  
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES S.A.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS
Years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
(In Thousands of Brazilian Reais)
                                   
                Translation
                into thousands
                of US$
    2002   2003   2004   2004
                 
Cash flows from operating activities
                               
Net income
  R$ 35,357     R$ 175,459     R$ 384,710     US$ 144,933  
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities
                               
 
Amortization of deferred compensation
                10,058       3,789  
 
Depreciation
    7,885       13,844       21,242       8,003  
 
Provision for doubtful accounts receivable
    1,305       2,455       (213 )     (80 )
 
Deferred income taxes
    16,246       27,929       36,860       13,886  
Changes in operating assets and liabilities
                               
 
Receivables
    (54,866 )     (137,785 )     (145,581 )     (54,845 )
 
Inventories
    (6,672 )     3,275       (7,468 )     (2,813 )
 
Prepaid expenses, other assets and recoverable taxes
    (9,551 )     (16,684 )     (20,527 )     (7,733 )
 
Accounts payable and long-term vendor payable
    17,257       6,145       (2,931 )     (1,104 )
 
Deposits for aircraft and engine maintenance
    (82,771 )     (62,409 )     (104,237 )     (39,270 )
 
Operating leases payable
    31,446       (21,347 )     (2,204 )     (830 )
 
Air traffic liability
    44,227       52,829       36,498       13,750  
 
Payroll and related charges
    6,496       23,727       16,082       6,059  
 
Sales tax and landing fees, insurance premium payable, dividends payable and other liabilities
    10,664       17,797       51,804       19,516  
                         
Net cash provided by operating activities
    17,023       85,235       274,093       103,261  
Cash flows from investing activities
                               
 
Deposits for aircraft leasing contracts
    (12,079 )     3,473       (4,263 )     (1,606 )
 
Acquisition of property and equipment
    (22,400 )     (42,736 )     (41,971 )     (15,812 )
 
Pre-delivery deposits
                (43,447 )     (16,368 )
 
Purchase of short-term securities
                (443,361 )     (167,029 )
                         
Net cash used in investing activities
    (34,479 )     (39,263 )     (533,042 )     (200,815 )
Cash flows from financing activities
                               
 
Short term borrowings, net
    (14,245 )     16,106       79,443       29,929  
 
Issuance of common and preferred shares
    16,500       94,200       470,434       177,228  
 
Tax benefit contributed by shareholders
                29,187       10,995  
 
Obligations with related parties
    19,497       (19,439 )            
 
Dividends payable
                (60,676 )     (22,859 )
                         
Net cash provided by financing activities
    21,752       90,867       518,388       195,293  
                         
Net increase in cash and cash equivalents
    4,296       136,839       259,439       97,739  
Cash and cash equivalents at beginning of the period
    5,156       9,452       146,291       55,113  
                         
Cash and cash equivalents at end of the period
  R$ 9,452     R$ 146,291     R$ 405,730     US$ 152,852  
                         
Supplemental disclosure of cash flow information
                               
Interest paid
  R$ 19,267     R$ 20,910     R$ 12,223     US$ 4,605  
Income taxes paid
  R$ 4,568     R$ 73,454     R$ 162,663     US$ 61,281  
Disclosure of non cash transactions
                               
 
Tax benefit contributed by shareholders
                  R$ 29,188     US$ 10,996  
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES S.A.
CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF SHAREHOLDERS’ EQUITY
Years ended December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
(Expressed in Thousands of Brazilian Reais, except for share information)
                                                                         
    Common Shares   Preferred Shares   Additional       Retained earnings    
            Paid in   Deferred        
    Shares   Amount   Shares   Amount   capital   compensation   Appropriated   Unappropriated   Total
                                     
Balance at December 31, 2001
    70,000,000     R$ 25,000                                   R$ (5,274 )   R$ 19,726  
Net income and comprehensive income for the year
                                              35,357       35,357  
Issuance of common shares
    46,200,000       16,500                                           16,500  
                                                       
Balance at December 31, 2002
    116,200,000       41,500                                     R$ 30,083     R$ 71,583  
Net income and comprehensive income for the year
                                              175,459       175,459  
Transfer to appropriated retained earnings
                                        5,579       (5,579 )      
Issuance of preferred shares
                52,592,985       94,200                               94,200  
Dividends accrued
                                              (26,503 )     (26,503 )
                                                       
Balance at December 31, 2003
    116,200,000     R$ 41,500       52,592,985     R $ 94,200                     R$ 5,579     R$ 173,460     R$ 314,739  
Formation of holding company
    224             56                                      
Exchange of common shares to preferred shares, net
    (6,751,719 )           6,751,719                                      
Exchange of preferred shares class A to common shares, net
    6             6                                      
Shares not exchanged in the reorganization
    (14 )           (8 )                                    
Tax benefit contributed by shareholders
                            29,188                         29,188  
Deferred compensation
                            20,117       (20,117 )                  
Net Proceeds
                18,750,000       459,185                               459,185  
Deferred income taxes on issuance costs
                      11,249                               11,249  
Amortization of deferred compensation
                                  10,058                   10,058  
Net income
                                              384,710       384,710  
Dividends payable
                                              (60,676 )     (60,676 )
Transfer to appropriated retained earnings
                                        12,773       (12,773 )      
                                                       
Balance at December 31, 2004
    109,448,497     R$ 41,500       78,094,746     R$ 564,634     R$ 49,305     R$ (10,059 )   R$ 18,352     R$ 484,721     R$ 1,148,453  
                                                       
Balance at December 31, 2004 translated into thousands of US$
          $ 15,634             $ 212,716     $ 18,575     $ (3,790 )   $ 6,914     $ 182,611     $ 432,660  
                         
    2004   2003   2002
             
Net income for the year
    384,710       175,459       35,357  
                   
Total comprehensive income
  R$ 384,710     R$ 175,459     R$ 35,357  
                   
See accompanying notes to consolidated financial statements.

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Table of Contents

GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES S.A.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
(In thousands of Brazilian Reais)
1. Business Overview
      GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. (the Company or GLAI) is the parent company of GOL Transportes Aéreos S.A. (GOL), the only low-fare, low-cost airline operating in Brazil providing frequent service on routes between all of Brazil’s major cities. GOL focuses on increasing the growth and profitability of its business by popularizing air travel and stimulating and meeting demand for simple, safe and affordable air travel in South America for both business and leisure passengers, while having among the lowest costs in the airline industry worldwide.
      On March 29, 2004, GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. became the parent company of GOL pursuant to a reorganization plan approved by the shareholders of GOL. The Company was incorporated by issuing 224 common shares to Aeropar Participações S.A. and 56 preferred shares to Comporte Participações S.A. for an aggregate amount of one hundred reais. In accordance with the reorganization plan, all outstanding common and preferred shares of GOL (except for 14 common shares and 8 class B preferred shares of GOL held by members of GOL’s board of directors) were contributed to the Company in exchange for the applicable number of common or preferred shares of the Company. The 116,199,986 common shares of GOL were exchanged for 109,448,267 common shares and 6,751,719 preferred shares of the Company. The 29,050,000 preferred shares class A of GOL were exchanged for 29,049,994 preferred shares and 6 common shares of the Company. The 23,542,977 preferred shares class B of GOL were exchanged for 23,542,977 preferred shares of the Company. The reorganization did not impact the operations or financial condition of GOL in any respect as of December 31, 2003 and as such, does not result in new basis of accounting.
      On May 25, 2004, the shareholders approved a 2.80 for 1 stock split for all outstanding common and preferred shares. As a result of the stock split, the aggregate number of preferred shares and common shares outstanding was increased to 168,793,243. As of May 25, 2004, the Company had 59,344,746 preferred and 109,448,497 common shares. All share and earnings per share information for all periods presented have been restated to give retroactive effect to the May 25, 2004 stock split. Also, on the same date shareholders approved amendments to the Company’s bylaws whereby holders of common shares may convert their shares into preferred shares, at the rate of one common share to one preferred share, to the extent such shares are duly paid in and provided that the amount of preferred shares does not exceed 50% of the total amount of shares issued. Any request for conversion must be delivered to the board of executive officers and, once accepted by the board of executive officers, must be confirmed by the board of directors at the first meeting after the date of the request for conversion.
      On May 24, 2004, the Company formed GOL Finance LLP for the purpose of facilitating cross-border transactions, including the lease and the purchase of aircraft. GOL Finance LLP, whose capital at December 31, 2004 was R$70,928, is based in the United Kingdom.
      On June 29, 2004, the Company concluded its initial public offering (IPO) by issuing 18,750,000 preferred shares and receiving proceeds in the amount of R$459,185 net of the issuance costs of R$37,050.
      The Company’s principal subsidiary, GOL, was incorporated on August 1, 2000 and its main purpose is to provide regular domestic air transportation services for passengers, cargo and mail in Brazil, under the concession regime as authorized by the Civil Air Transportation Office— DAC of the Ministry of Aviation through Ordinance No. 1109/ DGAC of August 18, 2000.
      GOL commenced operations on January 15, 2001 and, as of December 31, 2004, operated 27 aircraft, consisting of 18 Boeing 737-700, 4 Boeing 737-800 Next Generation and 5 Boeing 737-300 aircraft. During 2004, the Company inaugurated 9 new destinations (Foz do Iguaçu (PR), Joinville (SC), Caxias do Sul (RS), Uberlândia (MG), Teresina (PI), Porto Velho (RO), Rio Branco (AC), Aracajú (SE) and Buenos

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GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES S.A.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
(In thousands of Brazilian Reais)
Aires, Argentina increasing the number of cities being served to 36 (2003— 27) and operating from 38 airports in Brazil and Buenos Aires, Argentina.
      In May 2004, GOL signed an Aircraft General Terms Agreement with The Boeing Company for firm orders of 15 737-800 Next Generation aircraft, as well as furnishing equipment, training, services and other support matters. Under this agreement the Company has options to purchase an additional 28 737-800 Next Generation aircraft that are exercisable between 2005 and 2010. At December 31, 2004 the Company had exercised two purchase options with the Boeing Company increasing its firm orders to 17. The U.S. Exim Bank has agreed to provide a guarantee for long-term financing of up to 85% of the value of the aircraft purchased from Boeing. The Company’s intention is to finance the remaining portion with the proceeds from the issuance of equity and with cash flows from operations. The acquisition of aircraft requires pre-delivery deposits during the construction phase of each aircraft.
      In October 2004, the Company received approval from the Comissão de Estudos Relativos à Navegação Aérea (CERNAI) to start regular international flights to Buenos Aires, Argentina, and initiated the operations on December 22, 2004.
      The following table sets forth the ownership and percentages of the Company’s voting (common) and non-voting (preferred) shares as at December 31, 2004:
                         
    Common   Preferred   Total
             
Aeropar Participações S.A. 
    100%       40.3%       75.2%  
Comporte Participações S.A. 
          4.3%       1.8%  
BSSF Air Holdings LLC
          13.1%       5.4%  
Public Market
          42.3%       17.6%  
                   
      100%       100%       100%  
                   
      Áurea Administrações e Participações S.A. and Comporte Participações S.A. are entities controlled by members of the board of directors of the Company. Aeropar Participações S.A. is a subsidiary of Áurea Administrações e Participações S.A.
      BSSF Air Holdings LLC. is a wholly owned indirect subsidiary of AIG Brazil Special Situations Fund.
2. Summary of significant accounting policies
      These financial statements were prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States (US GAAP), using Brazilian Reais as the functional and reporting currency. The accounting principles adopted under US GAAP differ in certain respects from accounting principles generally accepted in Brazil (Brazilian GAAP), which the Company uses to prepare its statutory financial statements.
      Basis of consolidation. The consolidated financial statements include the accounts of GOL Linhas Aéreas Inteligentes S.A. and its subsidiaries, GOL Transportes Aéreos S.A. and GOL Finance LLP. All significant intercompany balances have been eliminated.
      Use of estimates. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with US GAAP requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the amounts reported in the financial statements and disclosures in the accompanying notes. Actual results could differ from these estimates.
      Cash and cash equivalents and Short-term investments. The Company’s short-term investment portfolio consists of traditional fixed maturities securities, which are readily convertible into cash and are primarily highly liquid in nature. Certain of the investments which have original maturities of 90 days or less, when

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Table of Contents

GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES S.A.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
(In thousands of Brazilian Reais)
purchased, are classified as cash and cash equivalents. Other short-term investments are classified as trading securities, as defined by the FASB Statement 115, “Accounting for Certain Investments in Debt and Equity Securities,” and are carried at their fair values based upon the quoted market prices at period end. Accordingly, changes in values of such investments are included in interest income.
      Inventories. Inventories consist of expendable aircraft spare parts and supplies. These items are stated at average acquisition cost and are charged to expense when used. An allowance for obsolescence is provided over the remaining estimated useful life of the related aircraft. These allowances are based on management estimates, which are subject to change.
      Property and equipment. Property and equipment are recorded at cost and are depreciated to estimated residual values over their estimated useful lives using the straight-line method. Interest related to predelivery deposits to acquire new aircraft is capitalized. The estimated useful lives for property and equipment are as follows:
         
    Estimated Useful Life
     
Leaseholds improvements
  Lower of lease term or useful life
Maintenance and engineering equipment
    10 years  
Communication and meteorological equipment
    5 years  
Computer hardware and software
    5 years  
      Measurement of Asset Impairments. In accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards (SFAS) No. 144, “Accounting for the Impairment or Disposal of Long-Lived Assets” (SFAS 144), the Company records impairment charges on long-lived assets used in operations when events and circumstances indicate that the assets may be impaired and the undiscounted cash flows estimated to be generated by those assets are less than the carrying amount of those assets. If impairment occurs, any loss is measured by comparing the fair value of the asset to its net book value.
      Maintenance and repair costs. Regular aircraft and engine maintenance and repair costs, including the overhaul of aircraft components, for owned and leased flight equipment, are charged to operating expenses as incurred.
      Revenue Recognition. Passenger revenue is recognized either when transportation is provided or when the ticket expires unused. Tickets sold but not yet used are included in the accompanying balance sheets as air traffic liability. Revenue from the shipment of cargo is recognized when transportation is provided. Other revenue includes charter services, ticket change fees and other incidental services, and is recognized when the service is performed. The Company’s revenues are net of certain taxes, including state value-added and other state and federal taxes that are collected from customers and transferred to the appropriate government entities. Sales taxes in 2002, 2003 and 2004 was R$37,693, R$96,803 and R$93,763, respectively.
      Advertising. Advertising costs, which are included in sales and marketing, are expensed as incurred. Advertising expense in 2002, 2003 and 2004 were R$16,684, R$25,396 and R$31,798, respectively.
      Income Taxes. Deferred income taxes are provided under the liability method and reflect the net tax effects of temporary differences between the tax bases of assets and liabilities and their reported amounts in the financial statements. A valuation allowance for net deferred tax assets is provided unless realizability is judged by the Company to be more likely than not.

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GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES S.A.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
(In thousands of Brazilian Reais)
      Derivative contracts. To help mitigate the Company’s overall foreign currency and fuel volatility risks, the Company primarily uses foreign exchange and fuel contracts. The contracts are recorded at current market value on the balance sheet with any gains or losses recorded in financial expense.
      Foreign currency transactions. Transactions in foreign currency are recorded at the prevailing exchange rate at the time of the related transactions. Exchange differences are recognized in the statements of operations as they occur and are recorded in financial expense.
      Accounting for stock-based compensation. The Company accounts for stock-based compensation in accordance with Accounting Principles Board Opinion No. 25, “Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees”, and related interpretations. Compensation expense for a stock option grant is recognized if the exercise price is less than the fair value of our stock on the grant date. The following table illustrates the effect on net income and earnings per common and preferred share as if the fair value method to measure stock-based compensation had been applied as required under the disclosure provisions of SFAS No. 123, “Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation”, as amended:
                   
    2003   2004
         
Net Income, as reported
    175,459       384,710  
Add: Stock-based employee compensation using intrinsic value
          10,058  
Deduct: Stock-based employee compensation expense determined under the fair value method
          (9,969 )
             
Pro forma net income
    175,459       384,799  
             
Earnings per common and preferred shares:
               
 
Basic as reported
    1.07       2.14  
 
Basic pro forma
    1.07       2.14  
 
Diluted as reported
    1.07       2.13  
 
Diluted pro forma
    1.07       2.13  
      The fair value for these stock options was estimated at the date of grant using the Black Scholes option-pricing model assuming an expected dividend yield of 2%, expected volatility of approximately 37%, weighted average risk-free interest rate of 16%, and an expected average life of two years.
      US$ dollar amounts. The U.S. dollar amounts are included solely for the convenience of the reader and have been translated at the rate of R$2.6544 = US$1.00, the official exchange rate issued by the Brazilian Central Bank as of December 31, 2004. This translation should not be construed to imply that the Brazilian reais amounts represent, or have been or could be converted into, equivalent amounts in U.S. dollars.
      Reclassifications. Certain balance sheet and statement of income amounts have been reclassified to conform to current year’s presentation.
3. Recent accounting pronouncements
      In December 2004, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (FASB) issued FASB Statement No. 123 (revised 2004), Share-Based Payment, (SFAS 123(R)), which is a revision of FASB Statement No. 123, Accounting for Stock-Based Compensation. SFAS 123(R) supersedes APB Opinion No. 25, Accounting for Stock Issued to Employees, and amends FASB Statement No. 95, Statement of Cash Flows. Generally, the approach in SFAS 123(R) is similar to the approach described in SFAS 123. However, SFAS 123(R) requires all share-based payments to employees, including grants of employee stock options, to be recognized

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GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES S.A.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
(In thousands of Brazilian Reais)
in the income statement based on their fair values. Pro forma disclosure is no longer an alternative. SFAS 123(R) must be adopted no later than July 1, 2005.
      As permitted by SFAS 123, the Company currently accounts for share-based payments to employees using Opinion 25’s intrinsic value method and, as such, generally recognizes compensation cost for employee stock options equal to their intrinsic values at the award date. Accordingly, the adoption of SFAS 123(R)’s fair value method will impact the Company’s results of operations, although it will have no impact on the Company’s overall financial position. The impact of adoption cannot be predicted at this time because it will depend on levels of share-based payments granted in the future. However, had the Company adopted SFAS 123(R) in prior periods, the impact of that standard would have approximated the impact of SFAS 123 as described in the disclosure of pro forma net income and earnings per share in Note 2.
4. Cash and cash equivalents
                           
            Translation
            into thousands
    2003   2004   of US$—2004
             
Cash and cash equivalents
    1,456       7,275       2,741  
                   
Investments in local currency
                       
 
Financial investment funds
    72,811       32,482       12,237  
 
Managed account
    16,049       199,170       75,034  
 
Bank Deposit Certificates— CDBs
    55,669       140,233       52,830  
                   
      144,529       371,885       140,101  
Investments in foreign currency
                       
 
Financial Investment Funds and Public Securities
    306       26,570       10,010  
                   
Total cash and cash equivalents
    146,291       405,730       152,852  
                   
Short-term investments
                       
 
Managed account
          443,361       167,029  
                   
      146,291       849,091       319,881  
                   
      The Company’s short-term investment in Bank Deposit Certificates (CDBs) has average earnings of approximately 1.28% per month, net of taxes, based on the CDI variation (Interbank Deposit Certificate), the redemption of which may occur at any time. At December 31, 2004, of the total investment amount in CDB, R$49,600 was linked to loan sureties with the banks Santander and Banco do Brasil.
      Investment funds have average earnings of approximately 0.91% per month, net of taxes. Earnings of the quotas redeemed in less than 30 days, before income tax levy, as from the investment date, are subject to Tax on Financial Operations (IOF).

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GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES S.A.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
(In thousands of Brazilian Reais)
      The managed account offers daily liquidity and is managed by a third party. The breakdown of the managed account portfolio as of December 31, 2004 is as follows:
                           
            Translation
            into thousands
    2003   2004   of US$—2004
             
Cash and cash equivalent
    16,049       199,170       75,034  
Short-term investment
                       
 
Bank Deposit Certificates— CDB
          146,048       55,021  
 
Public securities (LFT, LTN and LFTO)
          286,930       108,096  
 
OverNight
          10,383       3,912  
                   
            443,361       167,029  
                   
Total managed account
    16,049       642,531       242,063  
                   
5. Receivables
      Receivables are summarized as follows:
                         
            Translation
            into thousands
    2003   2004   of US$—2004
             
Credit cards net of commissions
    215,343       348,306       131,219  
Account holders— cargo and tickets
    2,831       4,573       1,723  
Travel agencies
    25,194       33,013       12,437  
Other
    968       4,025       1,516  
                   
      244,336       389,917       146,895  
Allowance for doubtful accounts
    (3,760 )     (3,547 )     (1,336 )
                   
      240,576       386,370       145,559  
                   
      At December 31, 2004, the credit card receivables, amounting to R$50,700, were pledged as guarantee of the Banco Bradesco overdraft account.
      There were no charge-offs of allowance for doubtful accounts during 2003 and the charge off during 2004 was $189.
6. Deposits
      Deposits for aircraft leasing contracts. All the Company’s aircraft are leased under operating leasing contracts. As required by the leasing contracts, the Company made certain U.S. dollar deposits as a guarantee to the leasing companies. These deposits are non-interest bearing and refundable at the end of the respective lease agreements.
      Deposits for aircraft and engine maintenance. U.S. dollar deposits for aircraft and engine maintenance as stipulated in the respective lease agreements are made to specific accounts in the name of the lessor responsible for the maintenance services. Certain required aircraft and engine maintenance, as stipulated in the respective lease agreement, are funded from these deposits. The Company is required to pay the lessor for maintenance expenditures that exceed deposited amounts. The Company can apply deposits amounts that exceed maintenance expenditures to the final lease payment. These deposits are non-interest bearing.

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GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES S.A.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
(In thousands of Brazilian Reais)
7. Short-term borrowings
      At December 31, 2004, the Company had six revolving lines of credit. One of the revolving lines of credit is secured by the Company’s credit card receivables and allows for borrowings of up to R$50,700. As of December 31, 2004, there were no outstanding borrowings under this facility. The Banco do Brasil and Safra credit facilities allow for combined borrowings of up to R$105,000. Another two revolving credit facilities (Banco Santander and Banco do Brasil) are secured by a Company investment in a bank certificate of deposit and allow for borrowings of up to R$49,600.
      The outstanding amounts under the Company’s credit facilities as of December 31, 2004 and 2003 are as follows:
                                                 
                        Translation
            Credit           into thousands
Contract   Interest Rate   Guarantee   Limit   2003   2004   of US$—2004
                         
Banco Safra
    108,5% of CDI               100,000       4,000       91,507       34,474  
Banco Santander
    109% of CDI       Certificate of deposit       40,000             20,746       7,816  
Unibanco
    CDI + 0,0673  a.m.       Guarantee clean       20,000             1,019       384  
Banco do Brasil
    108% of CDI       Certificate of deposit       5,000                    
Banco do Brasil
    105% of CDI               9,600             5,077       1,912  
Banco Bradesco
    104% of CDI       Credit card receivables       50,700       34,906              
                                     
                              38,906       118,349       44,586  
                                     
      The weighted average annual interest rate for these Reais-based short-term borrowings at December 31, 2004 and 2003 was 17.7% and 20%, respectively.
8. Transactions with related parties
      The Company has an exclusive bus transportation agreement with related companies Breda Transpotes e Serviços S.A and Expresso União Ltda. During 2004, the Company paid R$195 and R$772.
      The Company also has a five-year office space lease agreement with Áurea Administração e Participações S.A. for the lease of our headquarters located at Rua Tamoios, 246 in São Paulo. The lease agreement provides for monthly payments, adjusted by the IGP-M inflation index.

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GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES S.A.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
(In thousands of Brazilian Reais)
      Transactions with related parties and amounts receivable (payable) are as follows:
                                           
        December 31, 2003   December 31, 2004
             
        Account balance   Account balance
    Nature of   Receivable   Income   Receivable   Income
    transaction   (payable)   (Expenses)   (payable)   (Expenses)
                     
Loans of debentures
                                       
 
Áurea Administração e Participações S.A
    Loans       (270 )     (2,069 )            
Accounts payable
                                       
 
Serviços Gráficos Ltda. 
    Services rendered       (12 )     (188 )     (15 )     (172 )
 
Breda Transportes e Serviços S.A. 
    Services rendered       2       31       (28 )     (772 )
 
Expresso União Ltda. 
    Services rendered                         (195 )
Accounts receivable
                                       
 
Viação Piracicabana Ltda. 
    Services rendered             15             6  
 
Breda Transportes e Serviços S.A. 
    Services rendered                         19  
 
Áurea Administração e Participações S.A. 
    Services rendered       3       8             9  
Lease of headquarter
                                       
 
Áurea Administração e Participações S.A. 
    Rental             (300 )     (26 )     (262 )
9. Long-term vendor payable
      The Company renegotiated the terms of the loan agreement with Petrobrás— Petróleo Brasileiro S.A. to supply fuel, maturing on April 30, 2006, and whose balance was R$9,238 at December 31, 2004, recorded at a historical purchase price and updated by Consumer Price Index (IPC).
10. Shareholders’ equity
      On March 29, 2004, GLAI became the parent company of GOL pursuant to a reorganization plan approved by the shareholders of GOL. In accordance with the reorganization plan, all outstanding common and preferred shares of GOL (except for 14 common shares and 8 class B preferred shares of GOL held by members of GOL’s board of directors) were contributed to the Company in exchange for common and preferred shares of the Company. The 116,199,986 common shares of GOL were exchanged for 109,448,267 common shares and 6,751,719 preferred shares of the Company. The 29,050,000 class A preferred shares of GOL were exchanged for 29,049,994 preferred shares and 6 common shares of the Company. The 23,542,977 preferred shares class B of GOL were exchanged for 23,542,977 preferred shares of the Company. The preferred shares outstanding have no class designation. The rights and voting privileges of the common shares of the Company remain the same as those previously described above for GOL. The preferred shares of the Company are not convertible into any other security and are non-voting, except under the limited circumstances provided under Brazilian law as discussed above. The aggregate liquidation preference, including the adjustment by the IGP-M— inflation index, and divided rights discussed above remain unchanged.

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GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES S.A.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
(In thousands of Brazilian Reais)
      As of December 31, 2004, the Company had 109,448,497 shares of common stock and 59,344,746 shares of preferred stock authorized, issued and outstanding. According to the Company’s by-laws, the capital can be increased up to R$1,000,000 through the issuance of common or preferred shares.
      On May 25, 2004, the shareholders approved a 2.80 for 1 stock split for all outstanding common and preferred shares. As a result of the stock split, the aggregate number of preferred shares and common shares outstanding was increased to 168,793,243. All share and earnings per share information for all periods presented have been restated to give retroactive effect to the May 25, 2004 stock split. Also, on the same date the shareholders approved amendments to the Company’s bylaws whereby holders of common shares may convert their shares into preferred shares, at the rate of one common share to one preferred share, to the extent such shares are duly paid and provided that the amount of preferred shares does not exceed 50% of the total amount of shares issued. Any request for conversion must be delivered to the board of executive officers and, once accepted by the board of executive officers, must be confirmed by the board of directors at the first meeting after the date of the request of conversion. On May 25, 2004, the board of directors authorized the issuance of up to 20,325,734 preferred shares.
      On June 29, 2004, the Company concluded its initial public offering on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) and The São Paulo Stock Exchange (Bovespa) issuing 18,750,000 preferred shares for R$26.57 per share and receiving proceeds in the amount of R$459,305, net of the issuance costs of R$37,050. Additionally, R$386,593 of proceeds were remitted to BSSF Air Holdings LLC and Comporte Participações in connection with their sale of 14,300,000 preferred shares in the initial public offering.
Dividends
      The Company’s bylaws provide for a mandatory minimum dividend to common and preferred shareholders in the aggregate of at least 25% of annual net distributable income determined in accordance with Brazilian corporation law. The December 31, 2004 dividend was R$60,676 (R$26,503 in 2003). The dividends payable are included in current liabilities and ratification for payment will be made at the annual shareholders meeting.
Appropriated retained earnings
      Under the Brazilian corporation law and according to its by-laws, the Company is required to maintain a “legal reserve” to which it must allocate 5% of its net income, less accumulated losses as determined in accordance with Brazilian GAAP for each fiscal year until the amount of the reserve equals 20% of paid-in capital. Accumulated losses, if any, may be charged against the legal reserve. The legal reserve can only be used to increase the capital of the Company. The legal reserve is subject to approval by the shareholders voting at the annual shareholders meeting and may be transferred to capital but is not available for the payment of dividends in subsequent years. At December 31, 2004, the allocation of retained earnings related to the legal reserve was R$12,773.
Unappropriated retained earnings
      The balance of R$484,723 is pending approval by the Annual General Meeting in order to meet the Company investment plan and the increase in working capital.
11. Stock Option Plans
      At shareholders meetings held on May 25 and December 9, 2004, the Company’s shareholders approved an executive stock option plan for key senior executive officers. Initially, 937,412 of the Company’s preferred shares have been reserved for issuance under this plan. The Company issued to executive officers stock options

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GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES S.A.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
(In thousands of Brazilian Reais)
to purchase up to 937,412 of its preferred shares at an exercise price of R$3.04 per share. Fifty percent of the options vested on October 25, 2004, with the remaining 50% vesting at the end of each quarter ending subsequent to October 25, 2004, on a pro rata basis, through the second quarter of 2006. Each option will expire two years after the vesting date. The fair value of option at the date of the grant was R$24.50. Under the plan, there were 507,765 exercisable shares at December 31, 2004. In connection with the initial grant of preferred stock options, the Company recorded deferred stock compensation of R$20.1 million, representing the difference between the exercise price of the options and the deemed fair value of the preferred stock. The amount of the amortization expense for the year ended December 31, 2004 was R$10,058.
      At a shareholders meeting held on December 9, 2004, the Company’s shareholders approved a stock option plan for employees. Under this plan the stock options granted to employees cannot exceed 5% of total outstanding shares. The exercise price of the stock options is determined based on the average market quote of the last 60 trading days, the options vest at a rate of 1/5 per year, and can be exercised up to 10 years after the grant date. At December 31, 2004, no options had been issued under this plan.
12. Lease and other commitments
      The Company leases all aircraft, as well as airport terminal space, other airport facilities, office space and other equipment. At December 31, 2004, the Company leased 27 aircraft under operating leases (as compared to 22 aircraft at December 31, 2003), with initial lease term expiration dates ranging from 2006 to 2011.
      Future minimum lease payments under non-cancelable operating leases are denominated in US dollars. Such leases with initial or remaining terms in excess of one year at December 31, 2004 in thousands of US dollars were as follows:
                                                 
    R$   US$
         
    Aircraft   Other   Total   Aircraft   Other   Total
                         
2005
    188,998       11,756       200,754       71,202       4,429       75,631  
2006
    187,162       10,485       197,647       70,510       3,950       74,460  
2007
    174,614       9,213       183,827       65,783       3,471       69,254  
2008
    99,426       8,653       108,079       37,457       3,260       40,717  
2009
    57,330       5,171       62,501       21,598       1,948       23,546  
After 2009
    3,942       2,554       6,496       1,485       962       2,447  
                                     
Total minimum Lease payments
    711,472       47,832       759,304       268,035       18,020       286,055  
                                     
      During the second and third quarter of 2004, the Company entered into two and three year operating lease agreements for Boeing 737-300 aircraft which will be used to meet Company’s short term capacity needs while the Company awaits delivery of its new 737-800 aircraft. The aircraft were delivered in July, September, October and December 2004. The Company was not required to make any aircraft leasing contract deposits for these aircraft.
      On May 17, 2004, the Company signed a contract with The Boeing Company for the purchase of up to 43 737-800 Next Generation aircraft, under which the Company currently has 17 firm orders and 28 options. The firm orders, with an approximate value of R$2,997,000 based on the aircraft list price (corresponding to approximately US$1,129 million), have delivery dates between 2006 and 2010. The Company has made two deposits in the amount of US$14.3 million (R$38,850) related to the orders described above. The options are exerciseable for deliveries between 2005 and 2010. The Company makes payments for aircraft acquisition utilizing the procedures from IPO, cash flow from operations, short-term credit lines and supplier financing.

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GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES S.A.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
(In thousands of Brazilian Reais)
      The future annual payments for the 43 aircraft, including both firm orders and options, based on the aircraft list price, at December 31, 2004, and calculated at the year-end exchange rate, is as follows:
                 
        Translation into
        thousands of
        US$—2004
         
2005
    83,598       31,494  
2006
    511,110       192,552  
2007
    2,609,857       983,219  
2008
    2,176,791       820,069  
2009
    1,625,788       612,488  
             
Total
    7,007,144       2,639,822  
             
      The Company plans to finance up to 85% of the value of purchased aircraft with long-term financing guaranteed by the U.S. Exim Bank.
      The Company has a non-cancelable agreement for the use of the Open Skies system for selling tickets. This agreement expires in 2014, and can be extended at the Company’s option. The total future payment under this agreement is dependent upon the number of passengers transported and has a minimum annual payment of R$332. In 2004, the amount paid related to the use of the Open Skies was R$15,081, (R$11,011 in 2003).
      During 2004, the Company purchased letters of credit to guarantee certain US dollar lease payments. At December 31, 2004, approximately R$17,126 of the Company’s accounts receivable was collateral for outstanding letters of credit.
13. Contingencies
      At December 31, 2004 the reserves for contingent losses are summarized as follows:
                         
            Translation into
            thousands of
    2003   2004   US$—2004
             
Labor claims
    205       289       109  
Civil claims
    665       1,281       483  
Fiscal claims
    7,700       8,781       3,308  
                   
      8,570       10,351       3,900  
                   
      There are certain judicial proceedings against the Company pending judgment for unpaid ICMS on aircraft imports via leasing operations. Based on the opinion of its legal advisors that an unfavorable outcome on such proceedings is not probable, the Company has not established a reserve for this matter.
      The Company is party to legal proceedings and claims that arise during the ordinary course of business. While the outcome of these lawsuits and proceedings cannot be predicted with certainty and could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and cash flows, it is the Company’s opinion, after consulting with its outside counsel, that the ultimate disposition on such suits will not have a material adverse effect on its financial position, results of operation or cash flows. The fiscal claims reserve for contingent losses represents the total exposure of loss, including interests and penalties.

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GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES S.A.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
(In thousands of Brazilian Reais)
14. Financial instruments and concentration of risk
      At December 31, 2004 and 2003, the Company’s primary monetary assets were cash equivalents, short-term investments and assets related to aircraft leasing operations. The Company’s primary monetary liabilities were related to aircraft leasing operations. All monetary assets other than those related to aircraft leasing operations included in the balance sheet are stated at amounts that approximate their fair values.
      Financial instruments that expose the Company to credit risk involve mainly cash equivalents, short-term investments and accounts receivable. Credit risk on accounts receivable relates to amounts receivable from the major international credit card companies. These receivables are short-term and the majority of them settle within 30 days.
      The Company’s revenue is generated in Brazilian reais (and a small portion in Argentine pesos from flights between Argentina and Brazil), however its liabilities, particularly those related to aircraft leasing, are US dollar-denominated. The Company’s currency exchange exposure at December 31, 2004 is as set forth below:
                   
        Translation into
        thousands of
    R$   US$—2004
         
Assets
               
 
Cash and cash equivalents
    (450 )     (170 )
 
Guarantee deposits on aircraft leasing contracts
    (33,559 )     (12,643 )
 
Prepaid expenses of leasing
    (9,885 )     (3,724 )
 
Advances to suppliers
    (5,984 )     (2,254 )
             
 
Total obligation in U.S. dollars
    (49,878 )     (18,791 )
 
Liabilities
               
 
Foreign suppliers
    8,218       3,096  
 
Leasing payable
    14,044       5,291  
 
Hedge transactions
    2,600       980  
 
Insurance premium payable
    24,060       9,064  
             
      48,922       18,431  
             
 
Exchange exposure
    (956 )     (360 )
             
Off-balance sheet transactions exposure
               
 
Operational leasing contracts
    759,304       286,055  
 
Aircraft commitments
    2,997,000       1,129,000  
             
 
Total exchange exposure
    3,755,348       1,414,695  
             
      Exchange exposure related to amounts payable arising from these leasing operations is managed together with commercial hedging strategies. At December 31, 2004 and 2003 there were no outstanding hedging contracts.
      The Company is exposed to the effect of changes in the price and availability of aircraft fuel. To manage these risks, the Company enters into crude oil option and swap agreements. Prices for crude oil are highly correlated to jet fuel, making crude oil derivatives effective at offsetting jet fuel prices to provide some short-term protection against a sharp increase in average fuel price. These derivatives do not qualify as hedges for

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GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES S.A.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
(In thousands of Brazilian Reais)
financial reporting purposes and changes in fair value of such derivative contracts was R$1,466 during 2004, which was recorded as financial income.
      At December 31, 2004, the Company had derivative contracts to buy up to 120,000 barrels of crude oil in the nominal amount of US$5.1 million and fair value of US$5.2 million with a one-month term.
      The Company’s acquisition of fuel and oil is made substantially from one supplier which represents approximately 95% of total fuel and oil expenses.
15. Income taxes
      a) Deferred income taxes
      The Deferred income taxes computation is summarized as follows:
                                   
                Translation into
                thousands of
    2002   2003   2004   US$—2004
                 
Deferred tax assets
                               
 
Deferred tax benefit contributed by shareholders
  R$     R$     R$ 25,296     US$ 9,530  
 
Contingencies
          2,913       3,519       1,326  
 
Allowance for doubtful accounts
                2,943       1,109  
 
Accounting principles BR GAAP/ US GAAP differences, net
    9,790       3,060       11,589       4,366  
 
Temporarily differences
    700       1,753       244       92  
                         
 
Total deferred tax assets
    10,490       7,726       43,591       16,423  
Deferred tax liabilities
                               
 
Property and equipment
    (194 )           (1,093 )     (412 )
 
Provision for maintenance
    (212 )                  
 
Maintenance deposits
    (26,330 )     (51,902 )     (86,991 )     (32,773 )
                         
 
Total deferred tax liabilities
    (26,736 )     (51,902 )     (88,084 )     (33,185 )
Current deferred taxes assets
    9,790       3,060              
                         
Net deferred tax liabilities
  R$ (26,036 )   R$ (47,236 )   R$ (44,493 )   US$ (16,762 )
                         
      b) Income statement
      The following current and deferred income taxes amounts were recorded in the statement of operations:
                                 
                Translation into
                thousands of
    2002   2003   2004   US$—2004
                 
Current
  R$ 1,396     R$ 60,747     R$ 165,710     US$ 62,428  
Deferred expense
    16,246       27,929       36,860       13,886  
                         
    R$ 17,642     R$ 88,676     R$ 202,570     US$ 76,314  
                         
      Income taxes in Brazil include federal income tax and social contribution. The composite and effective tax rates were 34% for each of 2002, 2003 and 2004. During the year ended December 31, 2002, the Company incurred net losses, so no income taxes were payable. Such losses were utilized in 2003 and 2004.

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GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES S.A.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
(In thousands of Brazilian Reais)
      The reconciliation of the reported income tax and social contribution and the amount determined by applying the composite fiscal rate at December 31, 2002, 2003 and 2004, is as follows:
                                 
                Translation into
                thousands of
    2002   2003   2004   US$—2004
                 
Income before income taxes
  R$ 52,999     R$ 264,135     R$ 587,280     US$ 221,247  
Nominal composite rate
    34 %     34 %     34 %     34 %
                         
Income tax by the nominal rate
    18,020       89,806       199,675       75,224  
Stock option compensation
                3,420       1,288  
Other
    (378 )     (1,130 )     (525 )     (198 )
                         
Income taxes expense
  R$ 17,642     R$ 88,676     R$ 202,570     US$ 76,314  
                         
      In connection with the Company’s March 29, 2004 reorganization, the Extraordinary General Meeting of the Company’s shareholders approved the merger of BSSF II Holdings Ltda. into GOL. The preferred shares previously owned by BSSF II Holdings Ltda. were cancelled and reissued to BSSF Air Holdings Ltd. With this merger, the Company acquired the right to amortize for Brazilian local statutory and tax purposes a goodwill premium of approximately R$86 million generated from BSSF II Holdings Ltd. acquisition of its ownership in GOL. The amortization of this premium for local statutory and tax purposes will result in a future tax benefit for the Company over an estimated period of up to five years. The R$29.2 million tax benefit of the goodwill premium has been recorded as a deferred tax asset with a corresponding increase to additional paid in capital. As the Company realizes the tax benefit of the goodwill premium in accordance with the Brazilian Corporation Law, the Company will issue shares (pro rata both common and preferred) up to the amount of the tax benefit realized each year. At the time of the issuance of shares, the additional paid in capital is transferred to capital.
      Income tax returns are subject to review by the income tax authorities over a period of five years from the calendar year in which the returns are filed pursuant to applicable legislation and may subject the Company to assessments.
16. Earnings per share
      The Company’s preferred shares are not entitled to receive any fixed dividends. Rather, the preferred shareholders are entitled to receive dividends per share in the same amount of the dividends per share paid to holders of the common shares. However, our preferred shares are entitled to the receive distributions prior to holders of the common shares. Consequently, basic earnings per share are computed by dividing income by the weighted average number of all classes of shares outstanding during the year. Preferred shares are excluded during any loss period. The diluted preferred shares are computed including the executive employee stock options calculated using the treasury-stock method as they were granted at an exercise price less that the market price of the shares.

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GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES S.A.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
(In thousands of Brazilian Reais)
                           
    2002   2003   2004
             
Numerator
                       
 
Net income applicable to common and preferred shareholders for basic and diluted earnings per share
  R$ 35,357     R$ 175,459     R$ 384,710  
Denominator
                       
 
Weighted-average shares outstanding for basic earnings per share
    98,267,867       164,410,236       179,730,743  
Effective of dilutive securities:
                       
 
Executive stock options
                826,268  
 
Adjusted weighted-average shares outstanding and assumed conversions for diluted earnings per shares
    98,267,867       164,410,236       180,557,011  
17. Subsequent events
      In January 2005, the Company signed new operating leases for two Boeing 737-800 Next Generation aircraft and two Boeing 737-300 aircraft that are expected to be delivered during the first and second quarters of 2005.
      On January 19, 2005, the Compensation Committee, as established in the Company’s Stock Option Plan, approved the issuance of 75,854 stock options to employees to purchase Company’s preferred shares at an exercise price of R$33.06 per share.
      On January 27 and February 22, 2005, the Company announced it had signed a contract with Boeing to exercise nine more purchase options for 737-800 Next Generation aircraft. With these new agreements, the Company increased the number of firm orders to a total of 26 aircraft, which will be delivered between 2006 and 2010.
      On February 3, 2004, the Company increased the size of its 737-800 Next Generation aircraft order with Boeing by 20 purchase options. With the new options, the Company has increased the maximum size of its order to 63 aircraft. The new optioned aircraft would be available for delivery between 2006 and 2010.
18. Quarterly financial data (Unaudited)
      Quarterly results of operations for the years ended December 31, 2004 and 2003, are summarized below (in thousands, except per share amounts).
                                 
    First   Second   Third   Fourth
2004   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter
                 
Net operating revenues
  $ 433,092     $ 385,526     $ 517,233     $ 625,034  
Operating income
  $ 135,615     $ 92,775     $ 162,023     $ 185,889  
Net income
  $ 90,656     $ 73,229     $ 96,900     $ 123,925  
Earnings per share, basic
    0.54       0.42       0.52       0.66  
Earnings per share, diluted
    0.54       0.42       0.51       0.66  

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GOL LINHAS AÉREAS INTELIGENTES S.A.
NOTES TO CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS—(Continued)
December 31, 2004, 2003 and 2002
(In thousands of Brazilian Reais)
                                 
    First   Second   Third   Fourth
2003   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter   Quarter
                 
Net operating revenues
  $ 260,639     $ 381,877     $ 402,950     $ 418,124  
Operating income
  $ 8,814     $ 72,792     $ 149,875     $ 110,245  
Net income
  $ (7,885 )   $ 22,507     $ 96,735     $ 64,102  
Earnings per share, basic
    (0.07 )     0.13       0.57       0.38  
Earnings per share, diluted
    (0.07 )     0.13       0.57       0.38  
      The sum of the quarterly earnings per share amounts may not equal the annual amount reported because per share amounts are computed independently for each quarter and for the full year based on respective weighted-average common shares outstanding and other dilutive potential common shares.

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Table of Contents

[Inside Back Cover Art: Graphic (center): Photo collage including pictures of Gol aircraft, personnel, and facilities]


Table of Contents

 
(GOL LOGO)